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Valley of the Kings |
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"The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength and Health in the West of Thebes" Whilst not a temple, I have included here a map of the Eastern Valley, otherwise known as the Valley of the Kings. The map shows the locations of the tombs so far discovered in the valley. The convention followed is that each tomb is given number preceded by the letters KV (Kings' Valley). John Gardiner Wilkinson (an English Egyptologist in the nineteenth century), began mapping the Valley of the Kings in 1827. He painted a number on each of the tomb entrances that was visible at the time. In those days there were 21 tomb entrances visible and therefore tombs KV1 to KV21 were identified. Wilkinson's numbering was geographical and therefore KV1 is found at the entrance to the valley, KV13 at the end and KV21 down the eastern spur. Since then, as new tombs have been discovered they have been numbered consecutively following their discovery. Therefore, KV22 was the next tomb to be discovered and the famous KV62 (tomb of Tutankhamun) is the most recent. Whilst many believe that KV5 is the most recent discovery, it is, in fact, a recent re-discovery. Below the map is a list of KV sites and their corresponding "owners". This valley is where many of the royal burials from the Eighteenth to Twentieth Dynasties took place. The Valley is dominated by a pyramid-shaped peak, Mount El-Qurn (The Horn). It is possible that this shape reminded the New Kingdom pharaohs of the immense pyramid tombs of their ancestors from the Old Kingdom. Meretseger, "She who loves silence", a snake (cobra) goddess, was the local goddess who not only protected the tombs in the valley, but also the workmen who dug and decorated the tombs.
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