Sage-Tips

What is buried in the Valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings is famous for its royal tombs. These beautifully painted tombs have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For over a thousand years, the kings, queens and nobles of the New Kingdom (1500-1070 B.C.) were buried in this valley, which is the world’s most magnificent burial ground.

How many tombs are at the Valley of the Kings?

It was part of the ancient city of Thebes and was the burial site of almost all the kings (pharaohs) of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (1539–1075 bce), from Thutmose I to Ramses X. Located in the hills behind Dayr al-Baḥrī, the 62 known tombs exhibit variety both in plan and in decoration.

What are the tombs in the Valley of the Kings decorated with?

The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary practices of the period. Almost all of the tombs seem to have been opened and robbed in antiquity, but they still give an idea of the opulence and power of the pharaohs.

Are there more tombs in the Valley of the Kings?

Multiple tombs lay hidden in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, where royalty were buried more than 3,000 years ago, awaiting discovery, say researchers working on the most extensive exploration of the area in nearly a century.

What is the biggest tomb in the Valley of the Kings?

KV5
Though KV5 was partially excavated as early as 1825, its true extent was discovered in 1995 by Kent R. Weeks and his exploration team. The tomb is now known to be the largest in the Valley of the Kings.

How were the tombs built in the Valley of the Kings?

The tombs were all built by chiseling into the limestone. Limestone is also beautiful to polish and paint on. Tuthmosis started the tradition of burial in the Valley of the Kings, and pharaohs stopped building pyramids after that.

What is the largest tomb in the valley of the Kings?

Tomb KV5 is a subterranean, rock-cut tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It belonged to the sons of Ramesses II . Though KV5 was partially excavated as early as 1825, its true extent was discovered in 1995 by Kent R. Weeks and his exploration team. The tomb is now known to be the largest in the Valley of the Kings.

How many chambers are in the valley of the Kings?

There are over 60 tombs in the Valley of the Kings. They vary from small tombs that are little more than a large hole in the ground to very large tombs with over 100 underground chambers. Unfortunately, most of the tombs were looted thousands of years ago and the treasure was stolen or removed by thieves.

Which city is near the valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings is located near the city of Thebes. Alexandria – Alexandria served as the capital city from 332 BC to 641 AD. The city became the capital when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and one of his generals established the Ptolemy Dynasty. Alexandria remained the capital for nearly a thousand years.

What are facts about the valley of the Kings?

Interesting Facts about the Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Kings is home to 63 tombs of ancient Egyptian royalty. The Valley of the Kings, also known as the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, sits just west of the Nile River in Upper Egypt.