Kings and Queens

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3/10/08

This morning we went to the West Bank to explore the buriel grounds in the Valley of the Kings and Queens.
The remote, barren valley of the Kings was the the necropolis of the New Kingdom pharaohs. By digging their tombs deep into the Theban Hills, pharaohs had hoped that it would stop robbers stealing their priceless possessions buried with them. It was an unsuccessful strategy. Despite their hidden locations, every burial chamber was raided except for those of Yuya and Tuya and Tutankhamun. The terrain is mountainous desert.
With our entry ticket we visited the tombs of Ramesses IV, Ramesses 1 and the most well known and famous tomb of Tutankhamun.
The tomb of Ramesses IV was the first one we entered. It was unbelievable, not what we expected at all. It was the same sensation as walking into a really impressive foyer of a hotel, just WOW.
Ramesses IV died before his tomb was completed and its pillared hall had to be turned into the burial chamber. The red granite sarcophagus, though empty, is one of the largest in the valley.
Ramses 1, his tomb has the shortest (but a very steep decline)entrance corridor of all the royal resting places in the valley, leading to a single, almost square, burial chamber containing the pharaoh's open pink granite sarcophagus. This part of the chamber is decorated superbly. It features scenes from the Book of Gates, as well as scenes of the pharaoh in the presence of the gods.
The Tomb of Tutannkhamun is neither large nor impressive and bears all the signs of a hasty completion (70 days to be exact). The only thing left in the tomb is his mummy which lies in its gilded wooden coffin, in which he was originally buried. The walls of the burial chamber are decorated with paintings of Tutankhamun before the Gods and scenes of his funeral.
We didn't know if it would be possible to enter the tomb of Tutankhamun as the authorities have been speaking of closing it to the public for restorations. We were lucky that this hadn't happened yet, and we were able to see the tomb.
Next stop was to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Her temple is set against a barren mountainous backdrop. Queen Hatshepsut architect, Senenmut designed the temple in the 18th centuary. He designed this elaborate temple to show his love to her, as they were having a very torrent affair.
After lunch we visited Luxor temple and The Karnak Temple. Walking through these temples is like walking through a open air museum where you get to touch the exibits. We got the feeling that if this were at home in Australia it would all be behind chain wire fences. If only we all got to experiance our ancient Egypt history here.
We found the endless courts, halls, columns, and sheer size and complexity of the Karnak Temple overwelming. It was a site to see.

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Comments

[anonymous]

EVERYTHING
I THINK EGYPT IS GRREEAT BECASE OF ITS TALL PYRAMID AN DPEOPLE WHO GONE OVER THEIR