Luxor’s Valley of the Kings: The final resting place for the kings of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties

CAIRO – 18 January 2022: The kings of Egypt’s Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties of the New Kingdom [about 1550 - 1069 BC] were buried in the location of a dry river valley on the west bank of the ancient city of Thebes (modern Luxor); hence the valley was called Valley of the Kings.

However, this name is not entirely accurate since some royals other than kings were buried there, as well as some non-royal, albeit high-ranking individuals.

The Valley of the Kings is divided into the eastern and western valleys. The eastern part is the most famous between them, as the western valley contains only a few tombs. 

Luxor Valley Of The Kings - cc Kraig Becker

In total, the Valley of the Kings includes more than sixty tombs, in addition to twenty unfinished tombs that are no more than excavations.

This site was carefully chosen for the burial of kings, as it is located on the western bank of the Nile, because the sun god descends and "dies" on the western horizon, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Valley of the Kings - Tanatat pongphibool/Getty Images

The deity of the sun is then rejuvenated in the eastern horizon, which is why the west was associated with funerary concepts and ancient Egyptian tombs were generally located on the west bank of the Nile for this reason.

Valley of the Kings - cc Bruce Yuanyue Bi/Getty Images

The powerful kings of the New Kingdom were buried beneath the top of a pyramid-shaped cliff that surrounded the valley. The pyramid was a symbol of rebirth and eternal life. The pyramidal shape was also considered a sign of the gods.

This region, and the peak itself, was under the control of Hathor: "Lady of the West".

The valley was also chosen as the last resting place of the kings for its secluded nature. Pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms were looted, and so royals of the New Kingdom chose hidden underground tombs in the secluded desert valley to avoid the fate of the ancient tombs.

The first ruler of the New Kingdom whose burial in the Valley of the Kings was confirmed to be Thutmose I [about 1504-1492 BC.] The third king of the Eighteenth Dynasty.