Valley of the Kings

 

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Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings

It is known for housing the tombs (hypogeums) of a number of New Empire pharaohs. The first pharaoh to have been buried here it seems was Thutmose I (around 1504 BC). It is believed that the Valley of the Kings was chosen for two reasons: first, pyramidal shape of the mountain which overlooks it and second, easy access for surveying and protecting the area.

There are several names of illustrious adventurers and archaeologists that are associated to the valley.
It was from the year 1817 that the adventurer Giovanni Belzoni would make his first discoveries in the Valley of the Kings. Ignorant of their names at the time, he would discover, among others, the royal tombs of Ramesses I and Seti I. He would also be at the origin of a good number of other discoveries.
In 1922 Howard Carter laid his hands on a sumptuous treasure of incredible finesse where all the objects were examples of perfection: the treasure of Tutankhamen. Only a ‘small’ pharaoh whose reign was so short and insignificant that even the archaeologists came to the conclusion that perhaps he never existed. What would Ramesses II’s funerary treasure be like, having reigned for over half a century.
A visit to the Valley of the Kings of obviously bathed in this story and its curse. Once inside the tombs, it is difficult not to succumb to this light apprehension that titillates our senses for a while.
A small entrance concealed in the rock, a badly lit staircase or ramp, a dry, hot, stuffy air and these characters painted on the wall that seem to take you by the hand and lead you deeper into the entrails of the Earth. Claustrophobes beware! Here and there are wells, false doors, dead ends meant to mislead pillagers; somewhat trivial defences given the rewards and the lure of gold. Remember, the sarcophagus of Tutankhamen alone weighed one ton, a ton of fine gold set with precious stones.
Here at last is the vestibule and rooms on which were stored the mummy and all the objects useful to the deceased on their last voyage. Every single square inch of wall is painted. ???. Ra is everywhere. Present in his some 60 different forms, he watches over the pharaoh’s smooth boat journey and his reception by Anubis and Osiris. The ultimate test awaits. The pharaoh’s heart is weighed under the watchful eye of Thoth, the Ibis-headed god. If the pharaoh’s heart if lighter than the feather of Maat, goddess of Truth and Justice, the pharaoh advances to the pantheon of Gods. If his heart is heavier however, he is devoured immediately by Amnit, she-monster with a crocodile’s head and lion’s mane. A truly sad ending.
Today, 63 tombs are archived. The last of these was discovered on 7th February 2006 by a team of American archaeologists from the University of Memphis (United States).
Category : Egypt Monuments
items Date : 05/02/2010
Author of items : Charles Rossignol