Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings (Biban El Moluk) situated on the ancient site of Thebes is where the pharaoh’s were buried and hoped to meet their Gods in the afterlife. This is where you will find Tutankhamun’s tomb which was discovered almost intact in the 1920’s. You can go inside the tomb, but you’ll have to visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to see the treasures he was buried with. Tutankhamun was actually quite a minor king in the scheme of things and there are many larger and more impressive tombs to discover in the Valley of the Kings.
Not all tombs are open and officials occasionally close particular tombs for restoration. The style of the tombs did undergo changes throughout the New Kingdom and one should try to see examples from the span of 500 years that the Valley was in use.
The tomb of Tuthmose III is at the far end of the East Valley and is one of the earliest in the Valley. Its burial chamber is in the shape of a cartouche (oval-shaped) and its inscriptions are interspersed with stick figures. The climb up the modern metal staircase outside and then the descent into the tomb will give you a very good physical workout - but it’s worth it!
Horemheb’s tomb shows a transition through to the Ramesside-style of tombs. Just a little further down the main path is the tomb of Ramesses III. While in a state of ruin deep within (the burial chamber is off limits), it is definitely worth a visit and one of the small side chambers contains the famous paintings of two blind harpists.
Ramesses VI’s tomb has a magnificent burial chamber in which lie the broken remains of the large stone sarcophagus. Along the length of the chamber’s ceiling are two images of the sky goddess Nut which depict both the swallowing and rebirth of the sun disc.
