Valley of Queens
The valley of the queens is an isolated cemetery at the southern part of the vast necropolis of Thebes on the west bank of Luxor. It contains about 70 tombs mainly belonging to queens, princesses and nobles who lived during the period of the XIX and XX dynasties.
In general these tombs are smaller than the ones of the Kings. The plan of these tombs usually consists of a small antechamber, long narrow corridor with several side chambers and at the end the burial chamber.
One of the most important tombs of this valley is the one which belongs to the famous queen Nefertari. In fact that beautiful tomb was in a bad condition because of the salt crystals seeping through its poor quality limestone. It was restored and reopened for visitors. Nefertari was the principal consort of king Ramses II. Her tomb consists of a stairway leading down to a hall where on the walls there are representations of the queen with different gods and goddesses, the hall leads to an inner side chamber decorated with religious scenes such as queen Nefertari making burning incense and giving offerings to Osiris and Atom. A corridor then leads to the burial chamber whose wall is decorated with scenes of the Book of The Gates.
Also located in the valley, are tombs of three sons of king Ramses III who were buried there.
The tomb number 55 is considered one of the most important tombs among them; it was dedicated to prince Amon-hr-khepshaf, son of king Ramses III who died at an early age. among the most beautiful scenes of this tomb, that a visitor can see on the walls of the 1st chamber is a scene representing the prince together with his father while the King makes offerings to various deities. The large hall is decorated with some scenes of the Book of the Gates.
Tomb number 44 in the valley, belongs to prince Khaem-waset who was another son of Ramses III, it consists of 2 long corridors with 2 side chambers and square burial chamber. The walls of this tomb are decorated with various painted scenes; some of them representing the prince with different deities and with his father in front of the deities of the afterworld.
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