Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is a long narrow defile just west of the Nile River in Upper Egypt, part of the ancient city of Thebes. It was the burial site of almost all the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, from Thutmose I to Ramses X. The valley contains 62 known tombs, which exhibit variety in plan and decoration. The tombs were cut into the limestone rock and feature intricate paintings and sculptures depicting the dead king in the presence of deities and with illustrated magical texts to help him on his journey through the afterlife. The valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world