The Valley of the Queens stands as an everlasting tribute to Egypt's royal women and their power and beauty.
The Valley of the Queens can be found on Luxor’s West Bank (ancient Thebes). There are between 75-80 tombs located here which belong to Queens from 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties.
Map and Location of the Valley of the Queens
Valley of the Queens lies across from Luxor on Luxor’s west bank of the Nile on Egypt’s west bank where luxury Nile cruises provide access to it. An iconic tomb in this location belongs to Nefertari from 19th dynasty pharaoh Ramesses II’s wife Nefertari from 19th dynasty pharaohs from 19th and 20th dynasties as an example – as was her stunning tomb within this site as well. Inside you may come across tombs belonging to Khaemwese Titi or Amonhirkhopsef which all can be explored using luxury Nile Cruise.
Map of Valley of the Queens
Fascinating Facts About the Valley of the Queens
Tombs Reflect New Kingdom Burial Changes
While its name would lead one to believe the tombs in Ta-Set-Neferu were for queens exclusively, in actuality there are more tombs dedicated to royal princes, princesses, nobles who served the royal family, as well as other nobles who provided service.
Ancient Egyptians traditionally translated “Ta-Set-Neferu” as meaning the place of beauty whereas Egyptologists now agree a more accurate translation is “Place of Children of Pharaohs,” reflecting more accurately this site’s initial purpose as being part of the Valley of Kings rather than dedicated burial ground specifically dedicated for royal consorts alone. Mortuary Priests and the Police Secured the Site.
Nefertari tomb.
Priests and Police Guarded the Valley
Egyptologists offer various theories as to why New Kingdom pharaohs chose such an inaccessible site to construct the Valley of the Queens during New Kingdom times. Perhaps its location held political significance: not only was it near the Valley of Kings and Deir el-Medina worker village Deir el-Medina but it lay west of the Nile River opposite Thebes (modern-day Luxor, Upper Egypt) where an important temple dedicated to Goddess Hathor lay at its entrance – researchers believe ancient Egyptians considered this sacred spot where their dead could return in life again after death.
a balloon over the valley of the queens.
Challenges of Tomb Construction in the Valley
Building tombs for burial at Valley of the Queens proved an intensive learning process for laborers as they dug their tools into its rugged hillsides.
Limestone hills proved ideal as carving surfaces; their soft nature allowed for precise tomb-carving while flooding and earthquakes frequently in this region weakened it further; as result, more frequent cave-ins threatened both workers and stability of this vital spot in history.
Deir el-Medina: The Tomb Builders’ City
Deir el-Medina became home for workers involved with building royal tombs over time, becoming an individual town located between the Valley of Kings and Queens and the Valley of the Queens.
Although its peak occurred during the Nineteenth Dynasty rule (archaeological evidence dates it back as far as Thutmose I’s early fifteenth Century BCE reign), Deir el-Medina continued occupying skilled as well as unskilled labor until the end of the Twentieth Dynasty rule.
Queen Nefertari Consort and Diplomat
Nefertari was Ramses II’s Queen Consort before and during his sixty-six-year rule of Egypt from 1279 BC until her death around 1255 BCE (25 years into Ramses’ rule). Nefertari played an influential role both within her royal court as well as diplomatic relations, exchanging gifts with Queen Pudukhepa of the Hittite kingdom with which Egypt frequently warred. Her tomb is one of the Valley of Queens most notable monuments.
Nefertari tomb.
Ramses II Buried His Wives in Valley of the queens
Ancient Egyptian politics severely limited the lives of royal women. Pharaohs strictly controlled which marriages their daughters could enter; royal princesses could only marry princes or kings that fit within their rank, not below it or from foreign kingdoms that might usurp Egypt’s throne by marrying foreign kings as this could increase chances for usurpation from an outsider claiming Egyptian territory in exchange for her wife; many princesses never married at all and when they did it would likely have been either by marrying either their father or brother.
Ramses II.
Were Egyptian Queens Buried with the Pharaohs?
Abydos was among the oldest kingdoms on Earth; at first, people and ministers believed their Pharaoh was God and therefore tried to be buried as close as possible to his tomb so he would take care of them in their next lives.
Unfortunately, this practice eventually changed over time due to people and ministers believing this King to be deified – people thought their King took good care in looking after his subjects even after death!
Which Egyptian Queen Is Buried in the Valley of the Kings?
One of the best-known examples in the Valley of the Queens is Queen Nefertari (1290-1224 BCE), who rests peacefully beneath a tomb hewn out of rock in her tomb’s polychrome reliefs which still stands today. Other members of her royal family continued being interred within this Valley of Kings burial ground.
Is the Valley of the Queens Worth Visiting?
Even though many tombs have been vandalized over time, many still feature vibrant paintings on the walls and beautiful decor inside them.
While past travelers advised avoiding this attraction if time was tight, many noted how stunning its decor could be an attraction worth experiencing first-hand.
Valley of the Queens
Who Was Egypt’s Most Beautiful Queen?
Nefertari was widely revered among ancient Egyptians. Reigning during the 19th Dynasty (1290-1255 BC), she held significant political and cultural sway over Egypt at that time and beyond.
As the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II known as Ramesses the Great (known today), Nefertari played an invaluable role in Egyptian history and culture.
