The Valley of the Kings is a rocky gorge in Egypt, where during the period of the New Kingdom (about 500 years from the 16th century BC to the 11th century BC) tombs for the pharaohs, as well as a number of their high-ranking officials and relatives. The Valley of the Kings consists of two parts: the East, where the main array of tombs is located, and the West, where a small group of tombs is located, the largest of which is the tomb of Amenhotep III.

Since the end of the 18th century, this territory has become the center, first of treasure-hunting, then of archaeological and Egyptological research, and until now its tombs continue to attract public attention. In our time, the Valley of the Kings has become popular due to the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (KV62). In 1979, along with other parts of the Theban Necropolis, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The total number of tombs in the Valley of the Kings, taking into account new discoveries in 2005 and 2008, is 63. The first pharaoh buried in the Valley of the Kings is Thutmose I from the 18th dynasty, the last is Ramesses XI from the 20th dynasty.

source:taxo.info