The Valley of the Kings was used for primary burials from approximately 1539 BCE to 1075 BCE, and contains at least 63 tombs, beginning with Thutmose I (or possibly earlier, during the reign of Amenhotep I), and ending with Ramesses X or XI. Despite the name, the Valley of the Kings also contains the tombs of favorite nobles as well as the wives and children of both nobles and pharaohs. Around the time of Ramesses I (1301 BCE) construction commenced in the separate Valley of the Queens, although some wives continued to be buried with their husbands in the Valley of the Kings. The Theban Hills are dominated by the peak of al-Qurn, known to the Ancient Egyptians as Ta Dehent, or “The Peak.” It has a pyramid shaped appearance, and it is probable that this echoed the pyramids of the Old Kingdom, more than a thousand years prior to the first royal burials carved in the area. Its isolated position also resulted in reduced access, and special tomb police were able to guard the necropolis. While the iconic pyramid complexes of the Giza plateau have come to symbolize ancient Egypt, the majority of tombs were in fact cut into rock. Most pyramids contain sections that are cut into ground level, and there are full rock-cut tombs in Egypt that date back to the Old Kingdom. After the defeat of the Hyksos and the reunification of Egypt, the Theban rulers began to construct elaborate tombs that would reflect their new found power. The first royal tomb in the valley were those of Amenhotep I (although this identification is also disputed), and Thutmose I, whose advisor Ineni notes in his tomb that he advised his king to place his tomb in the desolate valley.
Explorations Speaker Series
Join Dr. Shreeyash Palshikar at 11:00 am for Caste in Contemporary India. The caste system in India has intrigued people around the world for many centuries. This talk introduces the religious, social, and political background of the caste system. In this talk, you will learn how caste differs from class, how groups have been able to move up in the caste hierarchy, and get insights into the subtle variations in this complex system. At 2:00 pm, Hassan M. Eltaher presents Cruising the Suez Canal – Sailing Through World History. This illustrated presentation will tell the story of the Canal by putting it in the context of international trade, engineering prowess, and strategic rivalries among both adversaries and allies. The story cannot be told of course without dwelling on the repercussions of the Canal on Egypt and the lives of the people who live along its banks.
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posted by Hills @ 7:58 PM
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