Lecture Notes: Trip to the Valley of the Kings

Introduction

• Location: Valley of the Kings, west bank of the river Nile, Egypt.
• Historical Significance: Known as the great noble necropolis of millions of years of Pharaoh.
  • Used for 500 years as a burial site for royals during Egypt's New Kingdom era.
  • Contains 62 tombs and 20 unfinished pits.
  • Seven tombs are in the West Valley, the rest in the East Valley.

Journey to the Valley

• Story of the Driver: Shared an anecdote about driving Henry Kissinger and dealing with Secret Service.
• Timing: The group planned their visit to coincide with low tourist presence.
• Vendors: Mention of the aggressive nature of vendors near the site, emphasizing the focus on a spiritual experience rather than material purchases.

Exploring the Valley

• Layout: Includes a replica of the mountain Alcorn or Horn.
• Ticketing:
  • General tickets for adults (240 Egyptian pounds), reduced price for students (120 Egyptian pounds).
  • Additional tickets for specific tombs like Seti I's tomb (1000 Egyptian pounds) and King Tut's tomb (300 Egyptian pounds).

Visiting the Tombs

Tomb of King Tutankhamun

• Description: Not much to see, but famous because of its intact discovery.
• Features: Mummy of King Tut still present.

Tomb of Seti I

• Description: Over 130 meters long, elaborately decorated, with well-preserved funerary texts.
• Features: Contains the Litany of Ra, Opening of the Mouth, and Book of Gates.
• Notable Aspects: Damage from early explorers, celestial depictions on the ceiling.

Tomb of Ramses I

• Description: Smallest royal tomb, quickly completed due to the king's short reign.
• Features: Red granite sarcophagus, minimal decoration.

Tomb of Touceret

• Historical Context: Touceret was a female pharaoh of the 19th dynasty.
• Features: Reliefs from the Book of Gates, Book of Caverns, and Book of the Dead.
• Usurpation Mystery: Set-Nak or possibly Ramses III erased Touceret’s memory.

Tips for Visiting

• Best Visiting Time: Arrive around 1-2 PM when tour groups leave for lunch, ensuring fewer crowds.

Conclusion

• The visit provided a unique opportunity to explore significant historical sites with minimal disturbances.
• Travel Tip: Utilize off-peak times for a more personal experience.