Valley of the Kings
Wadi al Muluk · Biban al-Muluk · Theban Necropolis West
New Kingdom (c.1539–1075 BCE; 18th–20th Dynasties)·Egyptian New Kingdom·🇪🇬 Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Fotograf/Photographer: Peter J. Bubenik (1995) · CC BY-SA 2.0
About
About Valley of the Kings
Rock-cut royal necropolis where for 500 years (16th–11th c BCE) 63 tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs and nobles were cut into Theban hills: KV62 Tutankhamun (Carter 1922 with near-intact burial), KV34 Thutmose III, KV35 Amenhotep II, KV17 Seti I deepest 137 m, KV7 Ramesses II. Decorated Books of the Dead, Amduat, Book of Gates. Tombs robbed in antiquity except Tutankhamun. Modern radar search continues.
Why it mattersRoyal necropolis blueprint; Tutankhamun discovery century milestone
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Location of remaining undiscovered tombs – Thutmose II claimed 2025 discovery debated
- 02Why valley site chosen: pyramidal el-Qurn peak mimics pyramid
Theories
- 01Deir el-Medina workforce built tombs; strikes in Ramesses III reign show labour history
- 02Valley isolation intended to thwart robbers – failed within generations
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Thutmose I first tomb KV20/KV38 c.1500 BCE; last Ramesses XI c.1075 BCE
- Period
- New Kingdom (c.1539–1075 BCE; 18th–20th Dynasties)
- Culture
- Egyptian New Kingdom
- Purpose
- Royal necropolis replacing pyramids, ensuring immortality via hidden rock-cut tombs in isolated valley
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Thutmose I first tomb KV20/KV38 c.1500 BCE; last Ramesses XI c.1075 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1143 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
25.7408° N · 32.6022° E · 170 m · 3 mapped features
KV62 Tomb of Tutankhamun
tombFour rooms with 5,000+ objects, golden mask, sarcophagus 1922 intact discovery
25.7405° N · 32.6016° EKV17 Tomb of Seti I
tombDeepest tomb 137 m, finest relief in Valley, Belzoni 1817
25.7398° N · 32.6008° EKV34 Tomb of Thutmose III
tombOval burial chamber with Amduat cursive stick-figure decoration
25.7406° N · 32.6028° E
Gallery