Valley of the Kings

Hidden within a fold of the sun-scorched Theban hills on the west bank of the Nile, the Valley of the Kings — known in Egyptology by the abbreviation KV — is one of the most extraordinary burial grounds ever created by human hands. For nearly five centuries, from approximately 1539 to 1075 BC, the pharaohs of Egypt's New Kingdom chose this remote desert valley as their final resting place, directing their most skilled craftsmen to carve elaborate corridors and chambers deep into the limestone bedrock.

Unlike the pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms that boldly announced royal burials to the world, the tombs of the Valley of the Kings were conceived as a radically different response to the persistent problem of tomb robbing. By hiding the royal dead in concealed hypogea — rock-cut underground tombs sealed beneath tons of desert rubble — the New Kingdom rulers hoped to protect both their mummified bodies and the extraordinary riches entombed with them. The strategy was only partially successful: almost every tomb was entered by thieves in antiquity. Yet what survived — and what archaeologists have uncovered since the 18th century — represents an irreplaceable window into ancient Egyptian religion, art, and royal ideology.

Overview: The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is divided into two distinct areas: the East Valley, which contains the majority of the royal tombs and is the primary focus of tourism, and the smaller West Valley (known as the Valley of the Monkeys or KV-West), which holds only a handful of burials — most notably that of Amenhotep III (KV22). The dramatic landscape of bare golden limestone cliffs, dominated by a natural pyramid-shaped peak called the Qurn (meaning "the horn"), was itself a powerful symbol for the ancient Egyptians, evoking the sacred benben stone and the primordial mound of creation.

The site was chosen not only for its symbolic geography but also for its practical isolation. Situated far from the cultivated Nile floodplain, surrounded by natural barriers, and positioned within easy reach of the royal palace complex at Malkata and the mortuary temples that lined the river edge, the valley offered both secrecy and spiritual proximity to the setting sun — the western horizon being the realm of Osiris and the land of the dead in Egyptian cosmology.

History & Discovery

The use of the Valley of the Kings as a royal burial ground spans nearly five centuries, encompassing all of Egypt's New Kingdom dynasties from the early 18th Dynasty through to the end of the 20th. Here is a timeline of the valley's most significant moments:

Since Carter's legendary discovery, excavations have continued — including the identification of KV63 in 2005, a storage chamber rather than a burial tomb, which demonstrated that the valley still holds secrets. Modern techniques such as ground-penetrating radar and satellite imaging continue to survey the area, and debates persist over whether additional undiscovered tombs may lie beneath the valley floor.

Tomb Architecture: The Hypogea

The rock-cut royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings — called hypogea (singular: hypogeum) from the Greek for "underground" — represent a radical departure from the above-ground pyramidal tradition of earlier dynasties. Each tomb was carved directly into the limestone bedrock, forming a series of descending corridors, antechambers, pillared halls, and a final burial chamber. The overall plan evolved significantly across the New Kingdom, reflecting changing theological ideas as well as the personalities and resources of individual kings.

Early 18th Dynasty tombs tended to follow a bent-axis plan, with the corridor changing direction partway through — possibly to follow natural fissures in the rock or to mimic the bent path of the sun through the underworld. By the time of Thutmose III (KV34), the tomb plan had become more elongated, and the burial chamber took on an oval or cartouche-shaped form to symbolically enclose the pharaoh within his own name. Later, from the 19th Dynasty onward, tomb plans straightened into long, descending corridors on a single axis, growing ever larger in scale and increasingly ambitious in their decoration.

The walls, ceilings, and pillars of these tombs were not left bare: every surface was a canvas for some of the most intricate religious art in human history. Using a combination of painted plaster, carved relief, and ink-drawn hieroglyphs, royal craftsmen covered thousands of square metres with images of the pharaoh in the presence of gods, maps of the underworld, and the sacred texts that would make his resurrection possible.

The Books of the Underworld: Roadmaps to Eternity

The single most defining feature of the Valley of the Kings tombs — and what distinguishes them so dramatically from all earlier Egyptian royal burials — is their extraordinary wealth of religious texts. Collectively referred to by scholars as the "Books of the Underworld" (or Netherworld Books), these compositions were painted or carved on tomb walls from the early New Kingdom onward, replacing the older Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts as the primary vehicle for royal resurrection theology.

The Amduat ("What Is in the Underworld")

The oldest and most fundamental of the Netherworld Books, the Amduat first appears in the tomb of Thutmose III (KV34). It describes the twelve-hour nocturnal journey of the sun god Ra through the underworld, divided into twelve sections corresponding to the twelve hours of the night. Each hour presents its own landscape, inhabitants, and dangers, through which Ra must pass to be reborn at dawn. The pharaoh, identified with Ra, makes this same journey. The complete text and images of the Amduat were regarded as so powerful that they functioned as a substitute for the actual journey — meaning that a king whose tomb contained the full Amduat was guaranteed resurrection even if his mummy were destroyed.

The Book of Gates

Introduced in the late 18th Dynasty and particularly prevalent in 19th and 20th Dynasty tombs, the Book of Gates similarly describes the sun's nocturnal journey but organises it around twelve guarded gates that separate each hour of the night. Each gate is watched over by a serpent deity, and entry requires the knowledge of the correct passwords and spells. The Book of Gates also contains one of ancient Egypt's most striking images: a scene of the Last Judgement in which the souls of the dead are weighed and sorted, and in which all of humanity — Egyptians, Nubians, Libyans, Syrians — appear together before the divine tribunal.

The Book of Caverns

First attested in the tomb of Merenptah (KV8), the Book of Caverns describes the underworld not as a linear journey but as a series of six oval caverns or pits, inhabited by the blessed dead and the punished damned. Its imagery is particularly vivid: mummified figures await resurrection in egg-shaped cocoons; enemies of Ra are shown bound, decapitated, or burning in lakes of fire. The text emphasises the transformative power of light — the sun god's passage illuminating each cavern momentarily before passing on, leaving the blessed with a brief taste of rebirth and the damned plunged back into darkness.

Together, these texts formed an integrated system of royal resurrection theology, each composition addressing a different aspect of the afterlife journey. The choice of which texts to include in a given tomb was not random: it reflected the theological priorities of each reign and the specific ritual requirements identified by the royal priests and craftsmen of Deir el-Medina, who planned and executed the decorative programmes.

Layout and Placement of the Texts

The placement of these books within the tomb was as carefully planned as their content. The entrance corridor, representing the transition from the living world to the underworld, was typically inscribed with the opening hymn of the Litany of Ra. Descending corridors carried passages from the Amduat or the Book of Gates. The antechambers featured scenes from the Book of the Dead alongside images of protective deities. The burial chamber itself — the most sacred space, the "House of Gold" — was reserved for the most intimate texts: the final hours of the Amduat, scenes of the pharaoh's union with Osiris, and images of his transformation into a star in the eternal sky.

Famous Tombs of the Valley

Of the 63 known tombs in the Valley of the Kings, approximately 18 to 20 are open to the public on a rotating basis at any given time. The following are the most significant and celebrated:

KV62 — Tutankhamun

The most famous tomb in the world, KV62 was discovered largely intact by Howard Carter on 4 November 1922. The boy-king Tutankhamun (reigned c. 1332–1323 BC) died young and unexpectedly; his small tomb (one of the smallest in the valley) was hastily prepared, and its modest painted walls show scenes from the Amduat and the Opening of the Mouth ceremony. What made KV62 extraordinary was not its decoration but its contents: over 5,000 artefacts, including the iconic solid-gold death mask, nested gilded coffins, a golden throne, and chariots, making it the most complete royal burial ever found. Most of the treasure is now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, with a dedicated display being prepared at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

KV17 — Seti I

Discovered by Giovanni Belzoni in 1817, the tomb of Seti I is widely regarded as the most beautiful in the valley and one of the finest artistic achievements of ancient Egypt. Running to a depth of over 120 metres, it features extraordinarily well-preserved painted reliefs covering virtually every surface, including the complete Amduat, the Book of Gates, the Litany of Ra, and stunning astronomical ceiling paintings showing constellations and the body of the sky goddess Nut. The sarcophagus chamber's ceiling is particularly celebrated — a deep midnight blue studded with golden stars and divine figures. KV17 is currently closed for long-term conservation.

KV9 — Ramesses V and VI

One of the most accessible and impressive tombs open to visitors, KV9 was originally begun for Ramesses V and enlarged and completed by Ramesses VI in the 12th century BC. Its enormous scale and extraordinary painted ceilings — showing the complete Books of the Sky, the Book of Gates, and the Book of Caverns — make it a highlight of any visit. The tomb is also historically significant as the structure that buried the entrance to KV62 beneath its builders' rubble, effectively sealing Tutankhamun's tomb from ancient robbers.

KV34 — Thutmose III

Hidden high in the cliffs above the valley floor, KV34 requires a climb and is not for the claustrophobic — but it rewards the effort magnificently. The tomb of Thutmose III (c. 1479–1425 BC) contains the earliest complete version of the Amduat in any royal tomb. Its decoration is unusual and archaic in style — figures are drawn as stick-like hieroglyphs rather than full-colour paintings, giving the walls the appearance of an enormous papyrus unrolled across the stone. The oval burial chamber, shaped like a royal cartouche, is one of the most atmospheric spaces in Egypt.

KV11 — Ramesses III

One of the longest tombs in the valley at over 188 metres, KV11 is famous for its uniquely domestic side chambers — decorated not with religious scenes but with paintings of everyday life: furniture, musical instruments, boats, and games. These "life" scenes gave the tomb its popular nickname "The Harper's Tomb," after a celebrated painting of blind harpists performing for the king. KV11 also features beautifully preserved images of foreign captives representing the four corners of the known world — Nubians, Libyans, Syrians, and Egyptians — in the Book of Gates sequence.

Conservation & Ongoing Research

The Valley of the Kings faces significant and ongoing conservation challenges. The primary threats are the very people who come to admire it: tourist footfall introduces moisture, carbon dioxide, bacteria, and salt into the sealed tomb environments, causing painted plaster to detach, pigments to fade, and limestone to deteriorate. The tomb of Nefertari in the nearby Valley of the Queens (one of the most beautiful painted chambers in Egypt) was closed for years due to damage caused by visitor breath and perspiration, reopening only after a major restoration project funded by the Getty Conservation Institute.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have implemented a rotation system for tomb access, closing individual tombs periodically to allow recovery and performing targeted conservation interventions. High-tech monitoring systems track temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels, and salt crystallisation in real time inside many tombs. In recent years, photogrammetric and laser-scanning surveys have produced precise three-dimensional digital records of tomb interiors, enabling both conservation planning and the creation of virtual replicas for public education.

Research continues to transform our understanding of the valley. The Theban Mapping Project, led for decades by Dr. Kent Weeks, has produced comprehensive maps of all known tombs. The discovery of KV64 (a shaft tomb of the Third Intermediate Period, found in 2011) demonstrated that the valley continued to be used for burial even after the New Kingdom ended. Ground-penetrating radar surveys have identified anomalies near KV62 that some researchers argue may represent additional undiscovered chambers — a claim that remains under active investigation and has sparked worldwide media interest.

Planning Your Visit

The Valley of the Kings is one of Egypt's most visited archaeological sites and one of the most rewarding, but thoughtful planning is essential to make the most of the experience.

Location	West Bank, Luxor (approx. 5 km from Luxor city centre via the Nile ferry and local taxi or tuk-tuk)
Opening Hours	6:00 AM – 5:00 PM (winter); 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM (summer). Last entry 1 hour before closing.
Ticket (Standard)	Includes entry to 3 tombs of your choice (excluding special tombs)
Tutankhamun (KV62)	Separate ticket required; significantly higher price — check current rates at the ticket office
Seti I (KV17)	Special ticket required when open; currently closed for conservation
Photography	A separate photography permit is required inside the tombs (no flash allowed)
Getting There	Cross the Nile by local ferry from Luxor Temple area, then take a taxi, tuk-tuk, or bicycle to the site
Best Time to Visit	Early morning (6:00–9:00 AM) to beat crowds and heat; October–April for cooler weather
Nearby Sites	Deir el-Bahari (Hatshepsut Temple), Valley of the Queens, Medinet Habu, Colossi of Memnon
Accessibility	Uneven terrain; some tombs involve steep steps or crawling sections. Electric train available within the site.

Practical Visitor Advice

The heat in the Valley of the Kings can be extreme, particularly between May and September when temperatures regularly exceed 40°C. Even in cooler months, the walk between tomb entrances across exposed limestone can be tiring. Bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person, wear a hat and sunscreen, and wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Inside the tombs, the temperature drops significantly and the air is still — some visitors find this claustrophobic. The electric train that connects the main visitor centre to the tomb area (included in the ticket) saves a kilometre of walking in each direction.

Who Is This Site For?

The Valley of the Kings is an essential stop for anyone with even a passing interest in ancient history, archaeology, religion, or art. That said, visitors with a particular interest in ancient Egyptian religion — who have read even a little about the Books of the Underworld or the mythology of Osiris and Ra — will find the experience immeasurably richer. A good guidebook or a licensed Egyptologist guide can transform a colourful but bewildering collection of images into a coherent and deeply moving story of human beings grappling with mortality and the hope of eternal life.

Pairing Your Visit

The west bank of Luxor is extraordinarily rich: the Valley of the Kings should ideally be paired with the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari (just over the ridge — astonishingly close — and visible from KV20), the Valley of the Queens for the tomb of Nefertari, and Medinet Habu (the mortuary temple of Ramesses III) for a complete picture of New Kingdom Thebes. Many visitors also cross back to the east bank for the Luxor and Karnak temple complexes, making Luxor a minimum two-day destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Further Reading

This article draws on established scholarship in Egyptology and ongoing research from leading academic institutions. For deeper exploration of the Valley of the Kings and the Books of the Underworld, we recommend the following authoritative sources:

1. The Theban Mapping Project — Comprehensive database of all KV tombs (Kent Weeks, AUC)
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Valley of the Kings: Overview and Key Monuments
3. Encyclopædia Britannica — Valley of the Kings
4. UNESCO World Heritage — Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (Site No. 87)
5. Griffith Institute, Oxford — Howard Carter Archive and Tutankhamun Discovery Records