In the Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings, located on the West Bank of the Nile, consist of 63 resplendent tombs of pharaohs of the New Kingdom. For 500 years from 16 - 11 B.C., tombs were built for kings of the 18th to 21st dynasty. The most famous tomb at this site was King Tutankhamun's (a.k.a. King Tut). However, contents of his tomb were permanently housed at Cairo's Egyptian Museum. In the Visitor's Center of the Valley of the Kings, a small model of the valley was exhibited which identified locations of the tombs, and the under belly of the tombs themselves. Due to photosensitive light damage that occurs over time, no photographs were allowed in the tombs below. However, I took pics of copyright photos sold on the premises to show just how rich the colors of the interior frescoes and hieroglyphics still remained thousands of years later. Nubi, my tour guide, was patient and knowledgeable in explaining the history of ancient Egypt, and the language of hieroglyphics prevailed throughout the interior walls of the tombs. He was marvelous and because of him, I gained a better understanding of the lives of the different pharaohs, the mummification process that took place after their deaths, and the protocols that went behind each burial. Valley of the Kings blew me away, and I left there with a deeper respect for Egyptian ingenuity and advanced building prowess.