This Valley Was Chosen as the Burial Site for Kings and Queens

Located in the very center of Egypt, the Valley of Kings is one of the most famous burial grounds where people of ancient times were buried. This valley is on the west bank of the Nile from Luxor and is where the pharaohs and other nobility of the New Kingdom of Egypt (1539–1075 B.C.) were buried. Preeminent today, the Valley of the Kings defines the grandiosity of Egypt and its kings continuing ambition of attaining immortality.

Why Was the Valley of the Kings Chosen?
The Valley of the Kings was carefully selected for several reasons:

1. Geographic Secrecy:
The valley was surrounded by steep cliffs, and such a geographical characteristic was important in ensuring security of royal tombs against tomb raider.

2. Proximity to Thebes:
The valley was near Thebes; modern day called as Luxor, the religious as well as administrative hub of New Kingdom of Egypt.

3. Symbolic Landscape:
Climbing on Al-Qurn was thought of as sacred because it was the highest point in the valley, and was associated with the sun god that went by the name Ra.

4. Ideal Terrain:
The limestone bedrock provided a good ground for cutting elaborate tombs and preserving the artifacts and the mummies for other centuries.

Who Was Buried in the Valley of the Kings?
This was actually a burial ground to some of Egypt’s most famed kings and nobles following their transformation to eternal residents of the valley kings.

Notable Burials Include:

Tutankhamun (King Tut): His tomb, KV62, is the most famous one because of his mostly undisturbed treasures found in 1922 by Howard Carter.
Ramses II: Popularly known as Ramses the Great, he was among the most great kings of Egypt.
Seti I: His tomb is located in the KV17th and is believed to be among the best decorated in the valley.
Hatshepsut: The only woman who ruled Egypt and disguised herself as a man; her tomb confirms this distinction.
Over 60 tombs have been found within the valley and each are a window into the ancient Egyptian culture, religion and death customs.

The Design of the Tombs
The tombs that excluded the body in the Valley of the Kings were magnificent architectures constructed to provide the deceased ruler an direction to the after- life.

Key Features Include:

Passageways: Extensive passages extending into the interior of the building, arched and descending deep into the ground like bowels of the earth.
Chambers: Chambers containing riches and food items as well as artifacts which wouldiger; the utilities of the pharaoh in the afterlife.
Wall Art: Spectacular painted scenes of the After Life according to the Book of the Dead, sky charts and protective deities.
Significance of the Valley of the Kings Today
The Valley of the Kings remains a treasure trove for archaeologists and historians:

1. UNESCO World Heritage Site:
The valley forms part of the Ancient Thebes with its necropolis recognized and listed under world heritage site for their cultural significance.

2. Ongoing Discoveries:
Nonetheless, even with hundreds of years of people searching for antiquity, the discovery of new images of hitherto unknown chambers and tombs is made.

3. Tourism Magnet:
The site gets millions of human traffic every year because many people are intrigued with the mystery of the Egyptian kings and queens.