Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings, located near Luxor, Egypt, is renowned for its royal burial tombs, primarily associated with the New Kingdom period (circa 1539–1075 BCE). This site contains at least sixty-three tombs carved into the rock, serving as hidden burial places for pharaohs, their families, and other significant figures. Unlike the earlier practice of constructing monumental pyramids, which were often plundered, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings were designed to be concealed and protected from grave robbers. Notably, the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, is one of the most famous, though many tombs have been found to contain exquisite treasures, including gold, jewelry, and artifacts meant to assist the deceased in the afterlife.
The Valley is divided into West and East Valleys; the East Valley houses the majority of the tombs. The burial chambers are adorned with elaborate decorations and accompanied by items intended for the afterlife, including food, beverages, and even mummified pets. Despite their initial security, many tombs have been subject to theft throughout history, with records indicating that robbing started as early as the reign of the pharaohs. The Valley of the Kings has garnered significant archaeological interest and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting tourists keen to explore its rich history and ancient practices surrounding death and burial.
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Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings, near Luxor, Egypt, is famous for its royal burial tombs. At least sixty-three tombs were carved into the ground and hillsides for the bodies of Egyptian leaders and their families during the period known as the New Kingdom (ca. 1539–1075 BCE). This manner of hidden burial differed greatly from that of earlier Egyptian leaders who wanted to be entombed in enormous pyramids. These structures were breathtaking but easily robbed and ransacked, which is why the ancient Egyptians began building tombs underground.
The Valley of the Kings has fascinated archaeologists and adventurers for centuries, yielding priceless treasures and information about the ancient peoples of Egypt. In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun (King Tut) in the valley. Archaeologists continue to search the region for lost tombs and new insights into ancient times.
Background
Many ancient cultures devoted great time and effort to memorializing their dead, protecting their bodies and riches, and attempting to help them prosper in the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs demanded extensive burial ceremonies and monuments on an enormous scale. The first pharaohs of Egypt, ruling during the period known as the Old Kingdom (ca. 2700–2055 BCE), demanded that their subjects provide them with towering pyramids filled with golden treasures to serve as their tombs after death. The pyramids and other treasure-filled tombs inspired awe but also invited tampering. Despite attempts to hide and protect burial treasures within the pyramids, thousands of grave robbers broke into them to help themselves to gold and jewels, often also defiling the mummified bodies of the leaders.
In the era of the New Kingdom, pharaohs moved away from the tradition of massive public monuments. Instead, they began favoring hidden underground mausoleums that would be better protected from robbers. Many of these pharaohs, along with their families and important officials, chose burial spots in a barren valley formed by thousands of years of water runoff in the hills near the city of Luxor, on the west bank of the Nile River. This location lay south of most pyramids, out of the public eye and closer to the sacred places and dynastic roots of the earliest Egyptian leaders. This region would become known as the Valley of the Kings.
The exact details of the beginning of the Valley of the Kings are unclear. Many researchers believe the pharaoh Thutmose I (reigned ca. 1493–1482 BCE) was the first to be buried in the valley. However, the first burial of a pharaoh identified in the valley was that of female pharaoh Hatshepsut (ca. 1479–1458 BCE).
The burial area was divided into two regions, the West and East Valleys. The West Valley is steep and rugged, and few burials are known to have been conducted there. Modern archaeologists have located only three tombs in that region. The East Valley, which contains the vast majority of burials, is a hand-shaped formation located below a natural peak that resembles a pyramid. Early pharaohs and engineers may have chosen the location for its symbolic value.
Overview
Workers constructed the tombs of the Valley of the Kings by carving long shafts into the cliff walls. At intervals, other shafts branched out from the main shaft, leading to separate burial chambers. Many of the chambers were hidden or walled in to deter future robbers. Inside, the chambers were ornately decorated with religious symbols and artwork as well as the personal possessions of the deceased leaders.
The contents of the graves were meant to prepare pharaohs for the afterlife when they believed they would return to the company of the gods. Items from the graves that have survived into modern times include golden treasures such as masks and boxes, jewelry, furniture, and clothing. Food and beverages were also left in many tombs to help sustain the deceased spirit. In many cases, the mummified bodies of friends, relatives, servants, and even beloved pets were included in the graves. Archaeologists have identified pet dogs as well as more exotic animals including gazelles and baboons.
The Valley of the Kings ultimately became the resting place for at least sixty-three important Egyptians from the 18th through 20th dynasties who ruled the New Kingdom. These interments include twenty-six pharaohs, such as many members of the Ramses family, Seti II, Siptah, Merenptah, Thutmose III and IV, and Mentuherkhepshef. The most famous tomb, which was discovered in modern times, is that of Tutankhamun, better known as "King Tut." Tut was a boy king who ruled for a short time. While his tomb was smaller and less spectacular than those of past pharaohs, it still contained hordes of dazzling gold, jewels, and priceless artwork.
Despite the emphasis on security and secrecy, over the millennia most of the known tombs were raided and ransacked by grave robbers. The thievery began during the reign of the pharaohs, and Egyptian records contain ample evidence of robbers being tried and punished for their crimes. The government itself ordered some of the intrusions, however, in hopes of salvaging some much-needed gold for the national treasury and protecting the mummies of past leaders. Early Greek travelers in ancient times observed the massive scale of pillaging in the area. Later, monks lived in some of the emptied tombs.
Researchers continue to search for more tombs. The most recent major discovery came in 1995, when Dr. Kent Weeks found the tomb of a pharaoh's sons. Although most of the archaeologists have been from foreign countries, Egyptian scientists such as Dr. Zahi Hawass have also begun searching the area, looking for any tombs that may remain. In the meantime, the Valley of the Kings has become a popular tourist destination. In 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the valley and its surroundings a World Heritage site.
Bibliography
Handwerk, Brian. "Valley of the Kings." National Geographic, 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/archaeology/valley-of-the-kings/
Meyerson, Daniel. In the Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamun's Tomb. Ballantine Books, 2009.
"Valley of the Kings." Lonely Planet, 2017, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypt/luxor/attractions/valley-of-the-kings/a/poi-sig/437492/355253
"Valley of the Kings." Supreme Council of Antiquities, www.sca-egypt.org/eng/site‗vok.htm
"Valley of the Kings." World Monuments Fund, 2017, https://www.wmf.org/project/valley-kings
Wilkinson, Richard H. and Kent R. Weeks. The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings. Oxford University Press, 2016.