Speaking of Valleys.....we happen to have our very own famous Valley back home. Who needs to travel across the Atlantic to visit the Valley of the Kings.....when we can drive 20 minutes to the Valley from our house in Pennsylvania and feast on some of the best broasted chicken in the state! Here's a quick shout out to our very own Valley Tavern!
The Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor, and this small area contains a staggering amount of exquisitely decorated tombs of Egypt’s ancient kings. This area is also dominated by the peak of al-Qurn, a pyramidal shaped mountain that echoes the appearance of the ancient pyramids of Giza. In these limestone hills, more than 60 tombs were excavated and decorated with intricate reliefs and images.
It is believed that this area was chosen as a burial ground in order to avoid the tomb robbing that was occurring at the Pyramids of Giza and the Nile Delta. By carving these tombs deep within the earth, pharaohs believed that their tombs and treasures would be safe from robbers.
Of the 10 tombs that were open to the public during our visit, we were only allowed entry into three of them using our provided entrance ticket. Three other tombs were also available for tours, but you had to purchase an additional ticket to enter them. One of those additional tombs included entry into King Tutankamun's final resting place. Our tour guide told us it was the smallest and least decorated tomb among the Valley....and suggested we spend our time visiting some of the other more elaborate tombs. Okie dokie!
Each tomb featured an entrance hallway that ended in a larger chamber. Some hallways are very long and covered with intricate artwork while other tombs had short hallways or almost barren walls. Each tomb required us to walk downhill on a series of staircases and then, eventually, turnaround and walk back uphill to get out of each tomb. No problem, right? Except the tombs tended to be hot. The farther you go, the warmer it gets. You do the math! Downhill + Uphill = Sweaty As Hill!
Just ask Jenesa....her water bottle is already empty!
No worries, babe! Soon we'll be off on a short ride in the air conditioned bus to our next stop in the Valley of the Kings.....and Queens! Our tour group was given some time to cool off at a local Alabaster stone factory - Tourist Trap! - before continuing to the mortuary temple of one of the most powerful FEMALE rulers of ancient Egypt - Queen Hatshepsut!
They don't look like massive statues until you put yourself between them!
Speaking of statues.....let us not forget about the Colossi of Memnon. After leaving the Temple of Hatshepsut, we arrived at the twin statues of Amenhotep III which stand at the entrance to what was once his temple. The temple was built on the banks of the Nile River, which in time eroded and eventually collapsed the structure. The Colossi of Memnon still rise 60 feet high, and even with nothing to guard they are impressive in their enormity.
The statues are known for a mysterious phenomenon where one of them was said to "sing" at dawn after an earthquake in 27 BC caused damage, according to ancient sources. The sound has not been reliably heard in centuries, but it was said that those who heard it would be given good luck. This phenomenon is believed to have been caused by dew drying in the cracks of the porous stone, but I find the "singing" story much more interesting to tell my friends!
Our day in the Valley has come to an end. Lots of statues, temples and tombs.....but, unfortunately, no broasted chicken anywhere to be seen! We'll be making reservations for that when we get home!
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