The Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens occupies the extreme southern part of the Theban necropolis – located beneath the southern flank of the sacred mountain – the Qurn – and approximately a half kilometer west of the workmen’s village of Deir el-Medina. The site was founded in the 18th dynasty, first acting as a burial ground for royal children and high dignitaries from the court. During the 19th and 20th dynasties, the valley was to become exclusively a cemetery for members of the royal family. It was now the venue of choice for many of pharaoh’s principal wives. Yet not all queens and princes chose to be buried here. Prior to claiming the throne, Queen Twosret had a tomb built for herself in the Valley of the Kings, as did sons of both Ramesses III and Ramesses IX. Most famously, a large number of the sons of Ramesses II were to share a monumental communal tomb there (KV 5).
Overall the Valley of the Queens contains over 80 tombs of New Kingdom date – though only 21 received any decoration. From the 19th dynasty, the Valley was known by the name, “Ta Set Neferu” – “The Place of the Beautiful Ones”. This was probably a specific reference to the royal harim and their children. This period also witnessed some measure of coherency in the planning of individual tombs. Clusters of burials now appear. Not only do these groupings contain contemporaneous tombs, but also those belonging to members of the same branch of a particular royal family.
Date of Construction: Founded in 18th Dynasty (c. 1549 – 1298 B.C.); used exclusively for members of the royal family (19th and 20th Dynasties, c. 1298 – 1064 B.C.)
Highlights:
Tomb of Khaemwaset (QV 44)
Tomb of Amenhirkhopshef (QV 55)
Tomb of Queen Tyti (QV 52)
Tomb of Nefertari (QV 66) – closed to the public
- Introduction to the Valley of the Queens - 5:12
- The Tombs of the Sons of Ramesses III - 1:17
- Introduction to the Tomb of Khaemwaset - 0:40
- The First Corridor - 1:41
- The Second Corridor - 1:12
- The Burial Chamber - 1:15
- Introduction to the Tomb of Amenhirkhopshef - 2:07
- Hallway - 0:28
- Corridor - 1:07
- The Burial Chamber (Amenhirkhopshef) - 1:26
- Introduction to the Tomb of Queen Tyti - 1:33
- The Burial Chamber (Tyti) - 1:23
