Breakaway Destination Guides (International)
Breakaway’s Travel World
A Guide to Golden Lands and Faraway Places
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 It a good idea to check out the wine of the area
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Valley of the Queens
 The Valley of the Queens is the site of over 90 tombs of royal wives, sons, and daughters from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties. Early tombs
lie at the northern 'mouth' of the valley, later tombs nearer its southern end.
The valley of the queens is an isolated cemetery at the southern part of the vast necropolis of Thebes on the west bank of Luxor. It contains about
70 tombs mainly belonging to queens, princesses and nobles who lived during the period of the XIX and XX dynasties.
 Valley of the Queens
These tombs are generally smaller than the ones of the Kings. The plan of the tombs usually consists of a small antechamber, long narrow corridor with
several side chambers at the end the burial chamber.
 Wall paintings - Tomb of Queen Nefertari
Valley of the Queens
Queen Nefertari -wife of Ramesses II/ One of the most important tombs of this valley is that of the famous queen Nefertari. This beautiful tomb was
in a bad condition due to salt crystals seeping through the poor quality limestone. It was restored and reopened for visitors. Nefertari was the principal
consort of King Ramses II. Her tomb consists of a stairway leading down to a hall. On the walls are representations of the queen with different gods and
goddesses. The hall leads to an inner side chamber decorated with religious scenes such as queen Nefertari making burning incense and giving offerings to
Osiris and Atom. A corridor then leads to the burial chamber whose wall is decorated with scenes of the Book of The Gates.
 Burial Chamber - Tomb of Queen Nefertari
Also located in the valley, are the tombs of three of the sons of King Ramses III who where also buried here. Tomb number 55 is considered one of
the most important. It is dedicated to prince Amon-hr-khepshaf, son of King Ramses III who died at an early age. Among the most beautiful scenes of this
tomb, in the 1st chamber, is a scene representing the prince together with his father while the King makes offerings to various deities. The large hall
is decorated with some scenes of the Book of the Gates.
 Wall painting - Tomb Amon-hr-khepshaf
Tomb number 44 in the valley, belongs to prince Khaem-waset who was another son of Ramses III. It consists of 2 long corridors with 2 side chambers
and square burial chamber. The walls of this tomb are decorated with various painted scenes. Some representing the prince with different deities and with
his father in front of the deities of the after world.
Valley of the Nobles
The Valley of the Nobles is located in the west bank of Luxor, in area called Sheik Abd El-Korna. The site has rock cut tombs of the nobles and high
officials of ancient Egypt who once served the pharaohs.
 Wall painting - Pashedu - Workman
Among the most important tombs in the cemetery is tomb number 55 which belong to Re-Mose who was the mayor of Thebes and the vizier during the end
of the reign of Amonhotep III (AmenophisIII) and his son Akhenaton. Unfortunately this tomb is unfinished because Re-Mose moved with Akhenaton to the
new capital Akht-Aton (modern day tel El Amarna) therefore the decorations works stopped and the tomb was left unfinished, but from the scenes which already
had been completed we can appreciate the high technique of the Egyptian art of that period.
 Wall painting - Sennedjem - Workman
When visiting these tombs, it is very important to know the numbers of the tombs you want to visit so that you can visit exactly what you want to see,
otherwise you will be lost among this tombs, as the names of the nobles which in most the cases are similar.
 Wall painting - Anher Khau - Workman
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