Ancient Egypt’s Necropolis
Ancient Egypt’s Necropolis on The West Bank of Luxor is one of the most consequential archaeological sites in the universe. Ancient Egypt’s Necropolis is much more than what We know as the Valley of the kings though many have called the whole area by that name. Indeed the whole west bank is honeycombed with tombs, not just of the ancient Egyptian kings, but of their relatives and noblemen who served them.
Luxor’s west Bank.
The west bank Necropolis of modern kingdom Egypt can be separated into several zones, and subzones of which the valley of the king is only one zone. Then the northern sector of the west bank closest to the Nile River is often referred to as the Tombs of the Nobles.
Ancient Egypt’s Necropolis & Noble Tombs.
It can be divided into about five different sub-zones, farthermost north is an area known as El_Tarif Where the large row of tombs was dug during the late second intermediate period, and early middle kingdom. Just south of El Tarif is Dra Abu el-Naga, which is a hillside with about 80 numbered tombs most belonging to priests, and officials of the 17th through 20th dynasties including some rulers of the 17th dynasty. Just southwest of Dra Abu el_Naga is an area called El_Assasif, where there are 40 tombs, mostly from the New Kingdom and later.
Just south of El_Assasif, is El_Khokha, a hill with five old kingdom tombs and 53 numbered tombs from the 18th and 19th Dynasty directly west of El_Khokha is Seikh Abu el_Qurna.
That hill was named for a mythical Muslim sheik and has 146 numbered tombs, most of which are from the 18th dynasty, and here one finds some of the most attractive private tombs on the west bank.
Lust north of Sheik Abd el_Qurna is Deir el_Bahari, well known for the northernmost temples in the valley, including that of Hatshepsut and Mentuhotep.
Further west is the highest of the peaks in the Theban range of cliffs.
This is the Qurn, which can be translated in Arabic to mean” horn”, or “forehead”.
At this Necropolis, the northern base, fairly well separate from the other burials on the west bank, is the Valley of the kings. Along with several unfinished tombs, 62 numbered tombs are known to Egyptologists that were the final resting place of many of the New Kingdom rulers.
South of the Valley of the kings, and closer to the Nile lies the valley of the Queens.
That area is inappropriately named because it houses the kings‘ family members, including both males and females and even some high officials. There are about 80 numbered tombs in this area, probably the most well-known of which is that of Queen Nefertari.
Other Theban monuments.
Merely southeast of the Queen’s canyon is Deir el_Medina, the ruins of a village that accommodated the craftsmen and workers who dig and decorated the tombs, and other Theban monuments. It is a very important area to Egyptology because it has revealed many aspects of ordinary life in Egypt, and there are some wonderful tombs in its Necropolis.
We find luxury Temples and one palace along the border between the fertile section of the valley and the hills in addition to another Astonishing The Southernmost temple is that of Ramses III located at Medinat Habu. The palace, one of the southernmost commemorations in the valley, is Malkata, lust south of Deir el_Medina, and belongs to Amenhotep III But was probably served as an executive center on the west bank. The Temples within the valley, each built by individual kings or queens, were collectively known by the Egyptians as the “ Temples of Millions of years “.
Discover the Magnificent treasures of Luxor the city of hundreds of gates!!
Egy Luxor Tours Trip advisor.
