On the west bank of the Nile across
the river from Thebes, now modern day Luxor, lies an area known as
the Valley of the Queens or
Wadi el-Melikat.
It is estimated that
this necropolis contains about eighty rock cut tombs in all, some
of which are lavishly decorated. Like the nearby and better known
Valley of the Kings, this isolated valley in the western hills was
chosen due to its relative proximity to Thebes.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The Valley
of the Queens is where, not only the wives of the Pharaohs were buried. In
ancient times, it was known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning, the place of the
Children of the Pharaoh, because along with the Queens of the 18th, 19th
and 20th dynasties, many princes and princesses were also buried along
with a few members of the nobility. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Many think that one of the best tombs in
Egypt, is that of Nefertari, who was
the favourite wife of Ramses II, who had five wife's in all. Nearing the
end of his reign, Ramses II had risen the status of Nefertari to almost
that of his own. The tomb consists of seven chambers completely decorated
with colourfully painted scenes portraying Nefertari as a very beautiful
woman in the companyof the gods. |
|
|
Nefertari is often pictured in a white,
gossamer gown, and wearing a golden crown, from which two feathers extend.
Near the stairs to the burial chamber Nefertarti is pictured in a scene
offering milk to the goddess Hathor. In a side room there is another scene
that depicts the queen worshipping the mummified body of Osiris.
Other
tombs to visit in the valley are the ones of Queen Titi, and that of
infant princes, Amunhirkhopshef, Kheamweset, and Seth-hir-khopshef, all
the princes were sons of Ramses III. In the tomb of Amunhirkhopshef, the
walls are full of images of Ramses III leading his son through the
funerary rituals. The other three tombs are not to the same standard as
that of Amunhirkhopshef and Nefertari, but do act as indicators to how
many of the other tombs are laid out. |
|
|
|
The principle tombs in the
Valley of the Queens |
| |
|
QV30 – Nebiri, Head of the Stables (18th
dynasty) |
|
QV33 – Princess Tanedjmet (20th dynasty) |
|
QV38 – Queen Satre, wife of Ramses I |
|
QV42 – Pa-ra-her-unemef, son of Ramses III |
|
QV47 – Seth-her-khopsef, son of Ramses III |
|
QV44 – Khaemwaset, son of Ramses III |
|
QV46 – Imhotep, vizier under Thutmose I |
|
QV47 – Princess Ahmose, daughter of
Sekenenre and Sitdjehuti |
|
QV51 – Queen Isis-ta-Habadjilat, wife of
Ramses III, mother of Ramses VI |
|
QV52 – Queen Tyti (19th or 20th dynasty) |
|
QV53 – Prince Ramses, son of Ramses III |
|
QV55 - Prince Amunherkhepsef, son of Ramses
III |
|
QV60 – Queen Nebettawy, daughter of Ramses
II |
|
QV66 – Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramses II
|
|
QV68 – Queen Meritamun, daughter of Ramses
II and Nefertari |
|
QV71 – Queen Bintanath, daughter of Ramses
II and Isetnofret |
|
QV72 – Neferhat / Baki |
|
QV74 – Duatentopet |
|
QV75 – Henut-mi-re |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
