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Valley of the Queens

The Valley of the Queens (Arabic: وادي الملكات Wādī al Malekāt) is a site in Luxor, Egypt within ancient Thebes where primarily the wives of pharaohs were buried. It was known then as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning "the place of beauty". The location was most famous for being the burial site of many wives of Pharaohs. Pharaohs themselves were buried in the Valley of the Kings.

The Valley of the Queens consists of the main wadi, which contains most of the tombs. In addition, it contains the Valley of Ahmose, the Valley of the Rope, the Valley of the Three Pits, and the Valley of the Dolmen. The main wadi contains 91 tombs and the subsidiary valleys add another 19 tombs. The burials in the subsidiary valleys all date to the 18th Dynasty.

The reason for choosing the Valley of the Queens as a burial site is not known. It is hypothesized that the close proximity to the workers' village of Deir el-Medina and the Valley of the Kings could have been a factor. Another consideration included the existence of a sacred grotto dedicated to Hathor at the entrance of the Valley. This grotto may have been associated with rejuvenation of the dead.

Tombs

Over one hundred tombs complete the Valley of the Queens. These tombs include the famous wives of pharaohs, Nefertari, Titi, and Amenherkhepshef. In addition, several princesses such as (insert here) are buried within the valley.

Other than women, the Valley of the Queens holds famous princes such as Khaemwaset and Amunherkhepsepf. Princes were buried within the Valley of the Queens due to an expansion of the valley to include more members of nobility.

Landscape

Unlike other areas within the Theban Mountain Range, stretching over Thebes, rockslides have shaped the Valley of the Queens over time. These rockslides combined with the shifting of limestone and bedrock, clay, water damage, bats and the impacts of general erosion caused an overall change of shape, height, and depth in the valley.

Preservation

Archaeologists have taken steps to preserve the Valley of the Queens for future study, tourism, and public education. Erosion has been a major factor in excavation, as most 18th through 20th century tombs were discovered due to these factors.

The Valley of the Queens is currently open to public tours on week days and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

Eighteenth Dynasty

One of the first tombs constructed in the Valley of the Queens is the tomb of Princess Ahmose, a daughter of Seqenenre Tao and Queen Sitdjehuti. This tomb likely dates to the reign of Thutmose I. The tombs from this period also include several individuals of noble status, including a head of the stables and a vizier.

Tombs from the Valley of the Three Pits mostly date to the Thutmosid period. The tombs are labeled with letters A - L. This valley also contains three shaft tombs, which are the origin of the valley's name. The modern labels for these three tombs are QV 89, QV 90, and QV 91.

The Valley of the Dolmen contains an old trail used by the workmen traveling from Deir el-Medina to the Valley of the Queens. Along this path is a small rock-cut temple dedicated to Ptah and Meretseger.

The tombs from this time period are generally simple in form and consist of a chamber and shaft for burial. Some tombs were extended in size to accommodate more than one burial. The tombs include those of several royal princes and princesses, as well as some nobles.

A tomb of the Princesses was located in the Valley. This tomb dates to the time of Amenhotep III. Its location is currently unknown, but finds from the tomb are in various museums and include fragments of burial equipment for several members of the royal family. The items include a canopic jar fragment of the King's Wife Henut, who was thought to have lived during the mid-18th Dynasty. Her name was enclosed in a cartouche. Canopic jar fragments mentioning Prince Menkheperre, a son of Tuthmosis III and Merytre Hatshepsut, were found. A King's Great Wife Nebetnehat from the mid-18th Dynasty is attested because her name was enclosed in a cartouche on canopic fragments. Canopic jar fragments with the name of the King's Daughter Ti from the mid-18th Dynasty were found as well.

Nineteenth Dynasty

During the 19th Dynasty, the use of the Valley of the Queens became more selective. The tombs from this period belong exclusively to royal women. Many of the high-ranking wives of Ramesses I, Seti I and Ramesses II were buried in the Valley. One of the most well-known examples is the resting place carved out of the rock for Queen Nefertari (1290–1224 BCE). The polychrome reliefs in her tomb are still intact. Other members of the royal family continued to be buried in the Valley of the Kings. Tomb KV5, the tomb of the sons of Ramesses II, is an example of this practice.

The tomb of Queen Satre (QV 38) was likely the first tomb prepared during this dynasty. It was probably started during the reign of Ramesses I and finished during the reign of Seti I. Several tombs were prepared without an owner in mind, and the names were included upon the death of the royal female.

Twentieth Dynasty

During the beginning of the 20th Dynasty the Valley of the Queens was still used extensively. Tombs for the wives of Ramesses III were prepared, and in a departure from the conventions of the previous dynasty, several tombs were prepared for royal sons as well, as their nobility was ranked similarly. The construction of tombs continued at least until the reign of Ramesses VI. The Turin Papyrus mentions the creation of six tombs during the reign of Ramesses VI. It is not known which tombs are referred to in that papyrus.

There is evidence of economic turmoil during the 20th Dynasty. Records show that the workers went on strike during the reign of Ramesses III. Towards the end of the dynasty there are reports of tomb robberies.

Third Intermediate Period and Later

The Valley of the Queens was no longer a royal burial site after the close of the 20th Dynasty. Many of the tombs were extensively reused. Several tombs were modified in order to accommodate multiple burials. In some cases this involved digging burial pits in the existing tombs. Not much is known about the use of the Valley of the Queens during the Ptolemaic Period but during the Roman Period there was a renewed, extensive use of the Valley as a burial site. During the Coptic Period some Hermit shelters were erected. Tombs QV60 (Nebettawy) and QV73 (Henuttawy) show signs of Coptic occupation. Wall scenes were covered with plaster and decorated with Christian symbols. The Christian presence lasted until the 7th century CE.

Principal Burials

Tomb	Name of Tomb Owner	Status	Time Period	Additional Comments
QV8	Hori and a King's Daughter	Prince / Princess	18th Dynasty
QV17	Merytre and Wermeryotes	Princesses	18th Dynasty
QV30	Nebiri	Head of the Stables	18th Dynasty	Reign of Tuthmosis III
QV31	Anonymous	Queen	19th Dynasty	Time of Seti I
QV33	Tanedjemet	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Time of Sety I
QV34	Anonymous	Princess-Queen	19th dynasty	Time of Seti I
QV36	Anonymous	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Time of Seti I
QV38	Sitre	Queen	19th Dynasty	Wife of Ramesses I
QV40	Anonymous	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Time of Seti I
QV42	Pareherwenemef	Prince	20th Dynasty	Son of Ramesses III, Possibly also occupied by Minefer, wife of Rameses III
QV43	Seth-her-khopsef (Ramesses VIII)	Prince	20th Dynasty	Son of Ramesses III, took the throne as Ramesses VIII, Tomb was unused.
QV44	Khaemwaset	Prince	20th Dynasty	Son of Ramesses III, Buried in reign of Rameses IV
QV46	Imhotep	Vizier	18th Dynasty	Vizier under Thutmose I
QV47	Ahmose	Princess	17th Dynasty	Daughter of Tao II the Brave and Sitdjehuti
QV51	Iset Ta-Hemdjert	Queen	20th Dynasty	Wife of Ramesses III, mother of Ramesses VI
QV52	Tyti	Princess-Queen	20th Dynasty	Wife of Ramesses III, daughter of Setnakhte
QV53	Ramesses Meryamen (Ramesses IV)	Prince	20th Dynasty	Son of Ramesses III, took the throne as Ramesses IV, Tomb was unused, buried in KV2
QV55	Amun-her-khepeshef	Prince	20th Dynasty	Son of Ramesses III
QV58	Anonymous	Queen	19th Dynasty	Time of Ramesses II
QV60	Nebettawy	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Daughter-wife of Ramesses II
QV66	Nefertari	Queen	19th Dynasty	Wife of Ramesses II
QV68	Meritamun	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Daughter-wife of Ramesses II
QV70	Nehesy		18th Dynasty
QV71	Bintanath	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Daughter-wife of Ramesses II
QV72	Neferhat / Baki	Princess and Prince	18th Dynasty
QV73	Henuttawy	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Daughter-wife of Ramesses II
QV74	(Dua)Tentopet	Queen	20th Dynasty	Wife of Ramesses IV. Usurped from an unused tomb of a 19th dynasty Princess.
QV75	Henutmire	Princess-Queen	19th Dynasty	Daughter-wife of Ramesses II (or possibly a sister)
QV76	Merytre	Princess	18th Dynasty
QV80	(Mut-)Tuy	Queen	19th Dynasty	Wife of Seti I and mother of Ramesses II.
QV81	Heka[...]		18th Dynasty	Name only partially preserved
QV82	Minemhat and Amenhotep	Princes	18th Dynasty
QV88	Ahmose	Prince	18th Dynasty	Son of Nebesu and Ian. The mummy was that of a fetus.

Citations

Bunson, Margaret. "Valley of the Queens". Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York. ISBN 9780816020935. 1991.

Sims, Lesley. A Visitor's Guide to Ancient Egypt. Saffron Hill, London: Usbourne Publishing. ISBN 0-7460-30673. 2000.

Agnew and Demas. "Valley of the Queens Assessment Report Volume 2: Assessment of of 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasty Tombs". Conservation Perspectives 32.2. 2017.

Getty.edu. “Valley of the Queens Assessment Report”. Volume 1, pp 3-20. New York. Publications resources, 12 March 2023.  

Novus, Stella. Ancient Origins, “Ta Set Neferu”. A Valley Where Beauties Sleep. 2023. 12 March 2023.

Buscaglia. "Nesimenjem and the Valley of the Queens’ Coffins.” Ancient Egyptian Coffins. Oxbow Books, 2018.

Deir El Bahari, Valley of the Queens, Tomb of Nefertary: Det.: Nefertary Guided by Isis.