Perhaps Egypt’s best-known site after the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, which is located close to Luxor, was a burial ground for pharaohs from Egypt’s 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties. There’s plenty to see on a Valley of the Kings tour, with 63 tombs in the valley itself – the most famous is that of Tutankhamun, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Many of the tombs have vivid wall paintings that are wonderful to witness. The four, towering statues that dominate the entrance to Abu Simbel welcome you to one of Egypt’s most remarkable monuments. Created to project the power of ancient Egypt over Nubia and its southern neighbours, the main temple of Ramses II is lit by rays from the sun twice each year – once on Ramses birthday, and once on his coronation. There is a smaller temple of Ramses II’s queen – Nefertari – and is one of the few places in Egypt where the male and female statues are the same size. Inside, scripts written on the walls tell tales of Ramses II’s military victories and his personal life. abu simbel A show of might in the south Luxor Thebes, ancient capital of Upper Egypt Dating from 1392 BC, Luxor is a treasure trove of ancient temples, buildings, and statues all packed into what was once the ancient city of Thebes – the pharaoh’s capital at the height of their power. Dubbed an ‘open-air museum’ for its vast array of archaeological delights, the eastern bank of the Nile is home to the Luxor Temple (see opening pages) and Karnak Temple. valley of the Kings The mausoleums of the Pharaohs 41
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