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Valley of the Kings
In this powerful and desolate landscape one finds
situated the Tomb of the Kings from The New Kingdom (18th,
19th and 20th dynasty).
In the new Visitor Center you can see a model, which shows
how close the graves are.
The tombs are chiseled deeply into the limestone mountains.
Experience the fantastic decoration of the corridors and
sepulchral chambers with relief and paintings.
The area was used as a burial ground for 500 years. A visit
to the tomb of Tut Ankh Amon requires an extra ticket. |
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The Temple of Hatshepsut
This death temple for the only female Pharaoh of Egypt has
been built partly at the foot of the rocks and into them.
The temple consists of 3 displaced terraces and 2 chapels
for Hator and Anubis.
The reliefs show the moving of 2 obelisks from Aswan to
Karnak and the journey to Punt. |
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The Colossuses of Memnon
Today these 2 colossal statues of Amenophis III stand
leading into the Theban Necropolis.
In ancient time they flanked the entrance to the death
temple of Amenophis III, of which few remain today.
Valley of the Queens
This is a burial ground for queens and other members of
the royal family from the 19th and 20th dynasty. The valley
contains more than 80 unfinished tombs. Some were neved
completed because of the bad quality of the rock. It is here, that the
tomb of Nefertari is situated. It is
closed, since the decoration has already been damaged after
the big restauration in the 1990s.
4 tombs are open to visitors; these are equally impressive
as the tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Ramesseum
It is Ramsey II's Temple of Eternity dedicated to Amon. The
temple contains reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh with the
victory by Ramsey II over the Hittites. Elsewhere his sons
are depicted. The temple is surrounded by the storehouse for
grain.
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Medinet Habu
This is the Arabian name for the death temple of Ramses III
or rather the temple complex, which in size is surpassed
only by Karnak. The first temple was built by Hatshepsut and
Thutmosis III.
The 1st pylon is the best preserved in Western Thebes. The
reliefs in the 1st yard commemorate the campaign against and
victory over the Libyans.
The inner rooms are decorated with scenes from the royal
family life, in one the king is playing a board game with
his daughters.
From the café on the corner there is a splendid view of the
temple with the Theban Mountains in the background. |
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Deir El Medina
It was the workers from the Valley of the Kings, who lived in
the villages with their families.
Traditionally the
inhabitants regarded Amenhotep I as the founder and his
queen Ahmose Nefertari as the guardian goddess of the town.
ITe first recorded strike in world
history (circa 1152 BC) took place here after after wages in
kind was reduced and eventually did not materialize . The strike has been
recorded on papyri found in the village.
The village life is depicted on limestone slabs found in
”The Big Hole”, an ancient dried out well behind the village.
The area also includes private tombs, of which some are
open.
The village existed until circa 1060 BC. Since then a Coptic monastery
has been founded here. |
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The Tombs of the Nobles
In the areas of Dra Abu’l Naga, Assasif and Gurna there are
numerous tombs of the higher noblemen from the time of the
Pharaohs (Middle and New Kingdom); a part of these is open
and can be visited. These tombs were made for the tomb owner
and his wife. In the tombs scenes from daily life: burial
processions, festival scenes with musicians, dancing etc,
and the activities of the tomb owner such as the harvest,
can be seen.
The motives are very lively and the painting is mostly very
well preserved.
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