Valley of the Kings

   Known in Arabic as Biban el-Moluk. A secluded desert area in the cliffs on the west bank of the Nile opposite Thebes consisting of two valleys chosen as the burial place for the kings of Dynasty 18, Dynasty 19, and Dynasty 20. There are 62 tombs there, mainly in the eastern valley. It is probable that the first ruler buried here was Thutmose I, and with the subsequent burials of the later monarchs, it became standard practice to inter royalty at the location. Apart from kings, there are tombs of some princes and favored courtiers. The tombs were constructed by a crew of royal workmen based atDeirel-Medina. The walls of the tombs were decorated with religious texts and contain very little in the way of historical information. The last tomb built was that of Ramesses XI, but it appears never to have been completed. Future rulers were buried in the north where they lived.

   Most of the tombs were plundered at the end of Dynasty 20 and beginning of Dynasty 21. Some remained open during the GraecoRomanPeriodand later periods, while others were rediscovered and excavated during the 19th and early 20th century, notably the tomb of Tutankhamun, the only royal tomb to be recovered intact. Most tombs still await full publication. The valley was first visited during modern times by the priests Claude Sicard and Pietro Pincia on 2 January 1721. The first plan was drawn by explorer Richard Pococke in 1738. Recent work has focused on the unexplored tomb of Ramesses II and that of his sons and a newly discovered tomb KV63. Following the desecration of the royal tombs, the mummies of many of the rulers were gathered in two secret royal caches from which they were recovered during the 20th century.

Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier