The Valley of the Kings: Pharaohs, Tombs, and Eternal Mysteries

Journey into the heart of ancient Egypt’s most sacred necropolis

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Introduction

The Valley of the Kings is a place steeped in history, mystique, and profound religious reverence. This ancient Egyptian necropolis served as the royal burial ground for pharaohs and the elite of Egyptian society for nearly five centuries. More than a mere cemetery, it stands as a gateway to the afterlife—offering a remarkable glimpse into the evolution of royal burial practices, architectural innovation, and the spiritual beliefs that shaped one of history’s greatest civilizations.

For 500 years, spanning the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties, the Valley of the Kings was the principal resting place for Egypt’s rulers. The tradition began with Pharaoh Thutmose I, with the notable exception of Akhenaten and his family, who were buried elsewhere.

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The Sacred Location

Dominating the entrance to the valley is the imposing Qurna Hill, the tallest peak in the western mountain range. Its silhouette bears a striking resemblance to the iconic shape of a traditional pyramid—a fitting symbol for a royal necropolis.

Situated approximately five kilometers from the Nile, amid the arid expanse of the western desert, the valley lies directly across from the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), which served as Egypt’s capital during this golden era. Shielded by towering cliffs and strategically hidden from view from the Nile’s shores, the valley’s relatively small size made it easily defensible—an ideal location for safeguarding the tombs of Egypt’s most powerful rulers.

The royal tombs were carved deep into the rock and concealed in secluded spots to maintain secrecy and protect their priceless contents. Notably, these tombs marked a departure from earlier practices, as they were constructed independently from the funerary temples where daily rituals were conducted.

Symbolism of the West Bank

The symbolic significance of the valley’s location on the left (west) bank of the Nile cannot be overstated. The ancient Egyptians viewed the west bank as the threshold between earthly existence and the afterlife, associating the setting sun with the realm of the underworld. Interestingly, this belief is reflected in the placement of all the Memphite necropolises of the Old Kingdom, which also reside on the west bank of the Nile.

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The Construction of the Royal Tombs

Planning and Design

When a new king ascended to the throne, he entrusted the royal architect—a trusted official—with the task of designing his tomb. This architect was responsible for selecting the tomb’s location, a decision subject to the king’s personal approval.

Two notable examples of tomb planning have survived to the present day:

• KV2 (Ramses IV): Documented in the Turin Papyrus 1885
• KV6 (Ramses IX): Recorded in Ostracon Cairo 25184

These ancient blueprints provide invaluable insight into the meticulous planning that went into each royal tomb.

The Builders of Deir el-Medina

The actual construction work was assigned to the skilled residents of Deir el-Medina, a village situated on the periphery of the valley. These craftsmen, organized by their respective trades, lived and worked in this dedicated community—and even constructed their own tombs nearby.

Many tombs remained unfinished, offering modern archaeologists a unique window into the various stages of construction and decoration.

Excavation Techniques

The construction process followed a methodical sequence:

1. Initial Excavation: Workers began by roughly excavating a narrow preliminary tunnel.
2. Carving Chambers: Builders painstakingly carved through layers of limestone to create interior spaces, typically featuring simple designs.
3. Expanding Spaces: In larger areas intended as future chambers, work advanced steadily across the entire width of the space.
4. Secondary Tunnels: Excavation progressed by creating side tunnels on the left and right, while leaving rock intact in areas designated for future pillars.

Challenges and Adaptations

The builders faced significant challenges:

• Flint Nodules: When workers encountered large nodules of flint—an exceedingly hard stone—they sometimes had no option but to alter the tomb’s axis.
• Shale Layers: When shale was encountered, its tendency to fracture posed a risk of collapse, occasionally forcing the abandonment of the project altogether.

Finishing and Decoration

To achieve the final surface finish on walls and ceilings, copper or bronze chisels were employed until smooth planes were achieved. In corridors, ceilings sloped in parallel with the incline of ramps or stairs. Within chambers, floors and ceilings were aligned parallel to each other—flat and level.

Square-sectioned pillars, measuring 2×2 cubits (with a cubit equivalent to 52.3 centimeters), were evenly spaced from one another and from the chamber walls.

Once walls and pillars were meticulously carved and polished, a layer of plaster was applied as a base for the exquisite wall paintings that would adorn them.

Lighting the Tombs

Given the limited visibility within the tombs, workers utilized lamps crafted from ceramic bowls containing linen wicks soaked in oil or grease. Interestingly, salt was added to the oil to prevent smoking and protect the precious paintings from damage.

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Precision and Measurement

A guiding line was inscribed on the roof of the preliminary tunnel, serving as the central axis of the tomb. This line indicated the lengths of various chambers and facilitated the symmetrical transfer of their widths to either side of the axis.

To ensure accuracy in layout and construction, a variety of wooden squares and plumb lines were employed to delineate corner angles and verify their correctness. One notable example can be observed in tomb TT1, belonging to Sennedjem in Deir el-Medina, where archaeologists unearthed a plumb line, a square, and a leveling square.

Detailed sketches filled with construction specifics were used to translate the meticulously planned design into reality. Numerous architectural drawings, etched on ostraca (limestone flakes or pottery shards), have been discovered in the Valley of the Kings. For instance, a sketch depicting the floor plan of a chamber with four pillars (Ostracon MB 41228) delineates precise distances between pillars, as well as between pillars and walls, along with the overall dimensions of the chamber.

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The First Royal Tombs

The royal tombs of the 18th Dynasty were unearthed in remote and inaccessible locations, nestled at the base of cliffs where entrances remained well concealed.

The imperative to maintain secrecy is vividly expressed in an autobiographical inscription attributed to the architect Ineni, discovered in his own tomb (TT81). Ineni recounted the excavation of King Thutmose I’s tomb, stating:

“(…) I witnessed how it was excavated in the rock the tomb of his majesty, in the solitude on the rock, no one saw it, no one heard it.”

Many of the 18th Dynasty tombs remained undiscovered until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over time, entrances became obscured by debris cascading from the cliffs above, propelled by fierce storms.

Notable Early Tombs

KV20 (Thutmose I and Hatshepsut): Likely among the first tombs in the valley, boasting a lengthy descending corridor stretching over 200 meters, winding its way to the burial chamber hewn deep within the earth.

KV34 (Thutmose III): Featuring a more sophisticated L-shaped layout that would become a hallmark in subsequent tombs. Access is gained via a steep staircase leading to a narrow corridor, comprising alternating sections of ramps and stairs descending from the tomb’s entrance to the well chamber.

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The Evolution of Tomb Architecture

The Bent Axis Design

A more sophisticated design emerged with the L-shaped layout introduced in KV34. This architectural scheme featured corridors and chambers distributed along two longitudinal axes set at a 90-degree angle.

In tombs KV35 (Amenhotep II), KV43 (Thutmose IV), and KV22 (Amenhotep III), this scheme was refined. Notable features included:

• An antechamber preceding the funerary chamber
• The tomb’s axis shifting once more: to the left in KV43 and to the right in KV22
• A labyrinthine structure that served both practical and symbolic purposes

Symbolism of the Design

The rectangular shape with rounded corners of the burial chamber evoked the image of a royal cartouche—a symbolic representation in hieroglyphic writing depicting a knotted rope encircling the pharaoh’s name. This design carried profound symbolism: while the upper axis admitted light (solar significance), the lower axis remained shrouded in darkness (associations with the underworld and death).

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Key Chambers Within the Tombs

The Well Chamber

Named for its characteristic large vertical well, often accompanied by a chamber at its lower level, the well chamber served protective functions and likely held symbolic significance as well. Following the burial, access from this chamber to the rest of the tomb was sealed with an adobe or stone wall, plastered and adorned with paintings to create the illusion that the tomb concluded at this initial chamber.

The Pillar Room

Adjacent to the well chamber, this space featured a rectangular layout oriented at a 90-degree angle to the tomb’s primary axis. The roof was supported by two square pillars, dividing it into two aisles. From the left-hand aisle, a descending corridor led directly toward the funerary chamber.

The Funerary Chamber

Significantly larger than other chambers, this space served as the focal point of the tomb. Its roof was upheld by six pillars, creating three distinct aisles. The chamber’s floor was divided into two levels, with the rear section—reserved for the sarcophagus—excavated deeper. Access was provided by a staircase positioned between the chamber’s final two pillars. Four small chambers, carved into the side walls, housed offerings and funerary items.

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The Transition Between Dynasties

The End of the 18th Dynasty

Significant changes in tomb design became evident during the transition between dynasties. One notable example is tomb KV57 (Horemheb), the final ruler of the 18th Dynasty. While following the established layout, a noteworthy innovation was introduced: the axes of the tomb were no longer set at right angles but aligned in the same direction, albeit slightly displaced from each other.

This alteration may have been prompted by the adoption of a linear scheme, allowing for more efficient use of limited space within the valley—which had become increasingly scarce after multiple generations of tomb construction.

The 19th Dynasty Innovations

At the onset of the 19th Dynasty, tomb KV17 (Seti I) continued this trend, featuring a layout with two parallel axes slightly offset from each other. Two significant innovations were introduced:

1. The pillar hall adopted a square shape instead of the traditional rectangular form, with its roof supported by four pillars rather than two.
2. The area housing the sarcophagus featured a domed ceiling—a departure from the usual flat design—providing increased vertical space.

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The Ramesside Period

Shifting Construction Patterns

During the Ramesside period, tombs were constructed in flatter areas near the valley’s center. In the 20th Dynasty, builders excavated corridors outside these tombs, leading to entrances of monumental proportions. As a result, these tombs became more visible and were among the first to be discovered.

From this point onward, the architectural layout became simplified. Corridors and chambers were arranged symmetrically along a single rectilinear axis—a characteristic feature of Ramesside tombs.

Notable Ramesside Tombs

Tombs KV7 (Ramesses II), KV8 (Merenptah), KV11 (Ramesses III), and KV9 (Ramesses V and VI) adhere to this architectural scheme, though there is no rigidly unified design:

• KV7 (Ramesses II): The first corridor, pillar hall, and second corridor align along a single axis of symmetry. However, upon reaching the antechamber, the tomb’s axis veers to the right, orienting the funerary chamber orthogonally—reminiscent of the bent axis found in Thutmosid tombs.
• KV11 (Ramesses III): Construction was interrupted when neighboring tomb KV10 was breached. This necessitated a slight adjustment to the tomb’s axis, resulting in a parallel alignment reminiscent of the schemes seen in tombs KV57 and KV17.

Increasing Scale

The tombs evolved from smaller to larger sizes as excavation delved deeper into the mountain:

• Corridors progressively widened and heightened—from about two meters in height in Thutmosid tombs to about four meters in later Ramesside tombs.
• The incline of corridors gradually lessened over time, with many sections becoming horizontal during the latter half of the 20th Dynasty.
• Staircases were divided into two sections by a central ramp, as seen in tombs KV11, KV7, and KV8.

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The Decline of the Valley

In general, the later Ramesside kings ruled for relatively short periods, resulting in few tombs from this era being fully completed. For instance, the demise of King Ramesses VII (entombed in KV1) occurred during the excavation of the fourth section of its corridor, before reaching the well chamber. Consequently, the third section was widened and adapted as the funerary chamber.

One of the valley’s last tombs, KV4 (Ramesses XI), underwent significant modifications—the antechamber was eliminated, and the unfinished funerary chamber was considerably reduced in size.

By 1090 BC—known as the “Year of the Hyenas”—Egypt faced severe economic instability and famine. Desert incursions by enemies further exacerbated the situation, and the monarchy struggled to maintain unity. Consequently, after 500 years since the construction of the first tomb, the Valley of the Kings ceased to be a secure haven. The pharaohs abandoned it forever.

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Visit the Valley of the Kings Today

Today, the Valley of the Kings stands as one of Egypt’s most visited and treasured archaeological sites. Visitors can explore the magnificent tombs, marvel at the vivid wall paintings, and walk in the footsteps of pharaohs who once journeyed toward the afterlife.

Practical Information:

• Location: West Bank of the Nile, opposite Luxor (ancient Thebes)
• Opening Hours: Daily, typically 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, water, and a hat
• Note: Some tombs may be closed for restoration. Entrance to certain tombs (e.g., Seti I, Ramses VI, Tutankhamun) requires an additional ticket.

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Step into the land of the dead and discover the eternal legacy of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs.