Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - Egypt - Part 2

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 – Egypt        Part II 

After lunch we headed for the Valley of the Kings to visit a few of the tombs there. There is also a Valley of the Queens where the various queens had their tombs dug. There was a Valley of the Noblemen and Valley of the Workers. These tombs were dug after the age of the Pyramids. As soon as a new king was crowned, he would gather his team and select the site and the design of his tomb, and they would begin to work on it. 

Fields along our way to the Valley of the Kings

More temples being excavated.

At the visitor center for the Valley of the Kings.

The valley chosen for the King’s tombs was probably chosen for a couple of reasons. A) The sandstone in this valley is very good quality. B) There is also a geologic formation overlooking the valley that is in the shape of a pyramid. Pyramids were no longer being used as tombs, but the symbology would have still been important.

Pyramid shaped mountain above the Valley of the Kings.

First, we went to Tutankhamun’s tomb. Here you walk down a narrow tunnel/stairway to view the sight. It is quite small in comparison to some. But it does have his mummy in a glass case. Interesting!

Tut was quite small.

 

 

After that we could choose from several other tombs nearby. I elected (Russ sat these out) for Ramesses IX. You walk straight in, then down a sloping corridor that is heavily decorated on the walls and ceiling. Plexiglass panels have been installed so that you can see, but not touch. Fascinating. And busy. Pretty steady pace of people shuffling by taking photos. After a ways, the corridor is fenced off before it drops down a steeper ramp to what was the burial chamber. We were not allowed to go any further, but there was a gentleman who would take your camera and run down the slope, take ½ a dozen photos of the burial chamber and run back up the slope to bring your phone back to you. I gave him a nice tip (tips are expected) and he seemed to appreciate it. The person in front of me had given him a very small tip. Hey these folks make their living on tips.

Typical entrance to the tombs today.

Ramseses IX

This corridor is at a downward slant.

Amazing detail and in such good condition

Every square inch was covered with decoration

Looking down into the burial chamber. I would say a couple of stories down.

Burial chamber

I wish I knew what this is saying.

 

I felt there wasn’t enough time to see another tomb so hung around until it was time to head back to the bus. Getting to and from the bus required us to board a 14-passenger golf cart for a ride to the tombs and back to the bus, well worth it. 

As we were walking back to the golf carts, our guide told us we were getting a bonus. Another tomb was open and there was no line. It is the tomb of Rameses IV. It was very similar to Rameses IX in design, and even to a certain degree, the decoration. But it is much older. And the burial chamber has a huge granite sarcophagus with the image of Rameses the IV on the top. Again, there was a gentleman there that would take a picture for you. He hopped up on a railing and was able to take a picture that also caught the top of the sarcophagus. Pretty cool, and he also got a nice tip.

Very similar design to Rameses IX, but much older, so condition isn't quite as good.

The sarcophagus

 

One more stop before we headed back to the ship at 4 pm. We stop for a photo op only at the Colossi of Memnon. The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which stand at the front of the ruined Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III, the largest temple in the Theban Necropolis. They have stood since 1350 BC. They are 60’ tall and are made of Quartzite stone. In less than 10 minutes, we were back on the bus and retracing our route to Safaga.

Watching the setting sun by looking east and seeing the reflection in the window of the bus.

 

We finally got back to the ship just before 9:00 p.m. A very long day, but so glad we did it and very glad we took the opportunity to visit Valley of the Kings.