Valley of the Kings
Tombs of the Pharaohs
The Valley of the Kings and the Valley
of the Queens are situated in the West
bank of Luxor. Built between 18th & 20th
dynasty, the valleys contain many tombs
of various Kings and queens and some of
their family members. Excavation is
still under way and new caves are
unearthed regularly. During this time
the kings shifted from Memphis (near
Cairo) area and moved south to Thebes.
Instead of pyramids they started making
tombs by carving out caves in limestone
with corridors and chambers. They were
easier to built and conceal than the
pyramids. The tombs followed a similar
pattern and the insides had inscribed
text of names of the Kings / Queens with
images and statues. Unfortunately,
photography is not allowed inside so
there are no pictures of the interiors.
In addition to the tombs, the mountain
ridges provide a fascinating sight...
