Valley of the Queens
| Located on the west bank at Thebes, this valley became the cemetery of the royal wives and some of the sons of the New Kingdom pharaohs. Although the site includes the tombs of some members of the late 17th and early 18th-Dynasty royal family, most of the 18th Dynasty rulers' wives were buried in the same tombs as their husbands in the Valley of the Kings. However, many of the 19th- and 20th-Dynasty royal wives and their offspring were buried in their own rock-cut tombs in the Valley of the Queens. There are about 75 tombs at the site, usually consisting of a small antechamber followed by a narrow corridor leading to the burial chamber. Two of the most beautiful tombs, those of Khaemwaset and Amun-her-khepshef, are open to the public. |
The tomb of Prince
Khaemwaset, Ramesses III's son, located in the Valley of the Queens. This painted
bas-relief shows the prince with a typical child's hairstyle: the long hair is collected
in a tress, fastened with a braid which falls sideways covering an ear.
Nephthys and Selkis on the
rear wall of Khaemwaset's tomb.
Ramesses III and
Re-Harakhty
tbd
Ramesses III wearing a
short wig with blue knots, called ibes.
Ramesses III
offering Ma'at, the goddess
of truth and justice and the representation of cosmic order. Her symbol is the ostrich
plume.
The cartouche of Ramesses III in the tomb
of his son, Amun-her-khepshef.
The architrave
above the doorway which leads into the rear annex of Amun-her-khepshef's burial chamber is
decorated with the royal names protected by two big winged snakes and two shenu-signs. A
solar winged disk sits above
the scene.
© All pictures are Copyright 1998 - 2001 Grisel Gonzalez
