The Valley of the Kings and Queens After serving only as a tourist destination in antiquity, the Valley of the Kings is now one of the locations that have undergone the most extensive archaeological explorations in Egyptology during the past two centuries (especially the days of the Roman era).
Because the queens of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties (from 1550 to 1070 BC) were interred here, along with numerous princes and princesses and members of the nobility, the Valley of the Queens is known as “the place of the sons of the pharaoh” or “the place of beauty” in ancient Egypt. The priests who conducted daily funeral rites and prayed for the deceased lords kept the graves of these people intact.
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The Valley of the Kings
Where exactly is the Valley of the Kings?
On the western bank of the Nile River, close to Luxor, is where you’ll find the Valley of the Kings. It is the most prominent location due to its extraordinary collections of tombs and stunning antique ruins. It is one of the most popular locations for learning about ancient Egyptian history because of its position. For nearly two centuries, archaeologists have been occupied by the abundance of discoveries in the Valley of the Kings. It would be practically difficult to visit every tomb in this area if they were all open to tourists, but happily, that possibility has been removed for you.
Why was the Valley of the Kings built?
The construction of tombs was a part of the ancient Egyptians’ preparations for the afterlife and belief in the afterlife. Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife where they would continue living, and the pharaohs would join forces with the gods. Because of this, Mummification was crucial in keeping the deceased’s body alive so that his eternal soul could awaken and continue living in the afterlife. The dead’s entire collection of possessions was also interred in the ancient tombs because they thought they might require them when they awoke to live an eternal life.
What is in the Valley of the Kings?
The New Kingdom’s mighty rulers were interred beneath the summit of a cliff that encircled the valley in the shape of a pyramid. The pyramid shape was a symbol of renewal and life and was also thought to be a sign of the gods. This location, as well as the peak itself, was under the dominion of Hathor, “Lady of the West.” Therefore, it is not surprising that the valley was chosen for carving royal tombs.
Who was the Valley of the Kings’ first royal interred?
King Tuthmosis the First was the first to be buried there, and it was used for burials until the 20th Dynasty. There have been 64 tombs found, and the King Tutankhamun tomb is the only tomb that has withstood the tomb robbers’ raid.
How many tombs are in the Valley of the Kings?
Although non-royal burials continued in usurped tombs, the tomb complex has at least 63 graves, starting with Thutmose I (or maybe earlier, under the reign of Amenhotep I).
Valley of the Kings facts:
- It is situated in the Theban Necropolis center.
- Right next to it is another valley and a temple.
- It was utilized for around 500 years.
- More than 60 tombs can be found in the Valley of the Kings.
- Additionally, there are graves of non-Kings in the Valley.
- The riches in the majority of graves were stolen.
- It’s possible that certain tombs now don’t resemble those from Ancient Egypt.
- A prominent peak in the form of a pyramid dominates the Valley.
- Ancient Egypt gave the location a unique name that was very detailed.
- A number and an abbreviation identify the graves.
- KV62 is the designation for the Valley’s most well-known tomb.
The Valley of the Queens
Where exactly is the Valley of the Queens?
It may be found in Luxor. Like the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens is a burial ground in Egypt where over 90 tombs were discovered during ongoing excavations.
What was the Valley of the Queens built for?
The Valley of the Queen, originally constructed to serve as the royal queens of ancient Egypt’s burial sites, was also used to interment princes, princesses, and other aristocracy
The Queens’ Valley Why was that name given to it?
Ancient Egyptian queens were interred in the Valley of the Queens. It was referred to in the past as “Ta-Sit-Nefru,” which is Arabic for “the place of the sons of the pharaoh” or “the place of beauty,” because it contained the tombs of the queens of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (which ruled from 1550 to 1070 BC), as well as numerous princes and princesses and members of the nobility.
Who was buried in the Valley of the Queens?
In ancient Egypt, the queens and spouses of pharaohs were interred in the same tomb as their husbands. This practice changed at some time, which explains why the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings were built.
The Valley of the Queens operated as a burial cemetery for the period (1292-1075 bc) in the 19th and 20th dynasties. The first tomb known to have been built in the valley of the queens was the tomb of princess Ahmose, the daughter of King Seqenenre and Queen Sitdjehuti.
Guarding the Royal Treasures for Eternity:
According to ancient Egyptian belief, if all the proper steps were taken, those who deserved it would have eternal life. Pharaohs and queens were buried with their treasures, clothing, and everyday necessities like food and drink because they felt that these items would be necessary to enjoy the afterlife. The safety of their treasures and possessions was of utmost importance, so when they planned the Valley of the Queen burial site, much thought was given to how to construct the burial site covertly to protect it from thieves, keeping the mummies and their possessions intact once they awakened to eternal life.
The objective was to conceal the tomb entrances so they would not be a target; this tactic was used in the Valley of the Queens just as it was in the Valley of the Kings’ construction. However, the treasures and the Queen’s possessions were not successfully protected by the Valley of the Queen’s architects. Even though some of the decorations were amazingly well-preserved, none of the tombs were discovered whole; Schiaparelli discovered them in 1904, and all of the wealth and personal items vanished.
Summary
Whatever the cemetery’s construction method—whether it was dug in the sand, made of bricks, “mud,” or stones, or carved out of solid rock—to the ancient Egyptians, it was a miniature of the other world. to a different planet.
To conceal them, rubble, earth, and stones were poured at the cemetery’s entrance since it was tightly locked and never opened following the burial of the body and the conclusion of the burial ritual.
For the same reason, she drew pictures and inscriptions about the other world with all its components and people on the cemetery’s walls, beginning at the entrance and moving through the vaults, hallways, and burial hall.
Because the ancient Egyptians were highly skilled in the art of mummification, which is one of their most distinctive traits, pre-dynastic era mummified mummies have been discovered. The relatively straightforward formula for embalming.
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