Tomb of Amenhotep III soon reopened to visitors?

Have you already enjoyed a walk to the Tomb of Ay (KV 23), middle of Valley of the Kings?
This is a nice way to feel the heart of the nature, when the wind whistles in your hears and echoes from the cliffs leave you a good omen for the rest of your discoveries.

This is the sacred place chosen by Pharaoh Amenothep III (also called Amenophis III, XVIII dynasty) and Pharaoh Ay (end XVIII dynasty), for them eternal life.
Located in the Valley of the West, or Valley of the Monkeys (named from Ay’s Tomb, decorated with twelve monkeys), the tomb of Amenothep III is along the way. Great Pharaoh of his time, Amenothep III reigned 38 years and let Egypt in peace and prosperity. By a «simple» cavity rock, never we imagine one of the biggest Tomb of Ancient Thebes is just 24 meters deeper!

Discovered in early excavation of the Valley of the Kings looted and emptied of its treasures (KV 22). Later, Howard Carter and Lord Carvarnon made a complete description of the tomb, in 1915.
After the entrance, many rooms lead to burial chamber : Corridor, pillared hall, chambers (it’s unique, two seems to be dedicated for Pharaoh’s wives), ante chambers. Burial chamber is decorated with fine quality, representing Pharaoh and deities (frescoes) and only the top of the big sarcophagus is still inside.

The tomb is closed for restoration, but workers are daily on the site now!

Through these pictures about magic nature and Pharaonic marvels, you can discover the place chosen by Amenothep III, Great Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, away from other tombs in the Valley of the Kings, as to mark his difference. He was Akhenaten’s father, his successor, entering in Armarnen era, stopped by Pharaoh Ay, who is the only other tomb in this Valley!

Development workers, at the foot of the cliff.                                                                       A tent  for meeting point or sharing a cup of tea, most of work is deep underground.

At the entrance of the tomb, the large pipes used to regenerate the air for workers underground.

External regenerator air connected to pipes inside the tomb. You can see the (small) entrance in the background.

Overview of the (small) entrance to the tomb at the immensity of the cliff.

Be sure to spend a beautiful trip through this balad, feeling nature, sunshine and nice discoveries we’ll be happy to share you!

If you like to spend couple of day in Luxor and the marvels, why not rent a flat to enjoy your visit?

Along the way, complete your discoveries by visiting Ay’s Tomb,presumed successor of Tutankhamun.
(ticket office in the Valley of the Kings 25LE around 2.5GBP; 4USD)

Find more excursions 

A visit to Carter’s House

Visit the world of Howard Carter takes us back to early last century in the fabulous story of his discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb and its Treasures.

Enter his home is also a great tour to see all objects of his time. His office, his sketches, his library. His typewriter that allowed him to maintain his correspondence with Lord Carvarnon, his camera at the time and his photo lab but also intimate places like his bedroom. The living room contains old objects, piled like the treasures stored in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
We relive and imagine his daily life, at the entrance to the Valley of the Kings, where he devoted all his life, his love and passion for Egypt.

Idea : You can complete and enjoy this day with a visit of Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Valley of the Kings (including 3 other tombs) and discover pieces of his treasure in Luxor museum

Howard Carter, British archaeologist and Egyptologist born in 1874 and died in 1939, to 64.

Talented  painter, he discovers Egypt at the age of 17 , reproducing in the site of Beni Hassan, between Cairo and Luxor,  frescoes  of princely tombs, richly decorated with scenes of agricultural and artisanal life. Then, he becomes  a big fan of all these wonders Pharaonic.

The many stages of his life lead him to become one of the most renowned archaeologists, crowned by his victory of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Howard Carter will work with the greatest Egyptologists of his day, Flinders Petrie and Gaston Maspero who offered him to work for the Department of Antiquities as inspector general of monuments in Upper Egypt. But his impetuous nature will make him crossing period of loneliness  and he resigned for excuses he will never do to wealthy French tourists demanding repayment of the ticket of a site considered too dark!
Maspero who regrets the departure of the talented Carter, introduce him Lord Carnarvon, who excavate in amateur since 2 years without success. He needs a man to supervise his action and will finance his work.

They will work together over 10 years,  searching many sites without great succes and finance and Lord Carnarvon’s hopes are diminishing with time. After evidences of an unknown pharaoh was found, a so-called thutankhamun, the famoustly obstinated Howard Carter began looking for his grave in an unprospected area. November 4, 1922, four days after starting excavations, Howard Carter had his consecration by discovering the first steps of the entrance to a tomb never plundered. Anubis on the door announced a great person. November 25, the opening of “the door” left Carter’s team in shock, faced with these historical treasures and millennia we have the chance to visit today, in several museums.

A special room is dedicated in Cairo’s museum, where it is magical to watch the perfection and beauty of the gold mask of Tutankhamun’s mummy, and also other  beautiful objects in the museum of Luxor.

1922 – 2012

90 this year, after the discovery of these magnificent treasures.

His office, where we imagine him with several feelings, to see his sketches, his library,

We guess a few moments of relaxation while listening to music or typing on his machine..

Through the light, Carter is still here…

A video projection is provided with Carter that speaks to us in hologram, not available this day…anyway, it’s an enjoyable trip!

Have a look to the oven working with external air!

Some everyday items

Luxury choice…which media,which information?

It’s every day when we listen to the information: The world goes wrong, it is clearly stated through the TV presenter, from the newspaper and information mass.
Through this, what suggests that transfer of information?
Fear? Anger? The misplaced interest for the last bad news to broadcast and conversation prioritizes media.
Television often looked early, middle or end of day, and even 3 times for some people, reminds me of some of the information’s dictatorship to condition people with bad news several times a day, and seems to leave with a positive touch of hope as a temporary thinning of the weather gives us hope for better days.

If I defer to the definition of information: “Information is a concept with several meanings. It is closely linked to notions of constraint, communication, control, data, form, instruction, knowledge, meaning, perception and representation. Etymologically, the information is what gives form to the spirit. It comes from the Latin verb informare, which means “shaping” or “to form an idea of”. ” (wikipedia).

A meditation on the transmission thereof, nothing indicates only the negative side of the news, where is the objectivity of our media?

Egypt is still going through a great period of crisis is a hot topic and there is no great achievements without much risk taking.

I met in the plane a girl living in Cairo and I asked how was life in the capital? She smiled and replied: “Life is normal, everything happens in Tahrir Square,” here is some information directly!

The recursive propagation of images broadcast through the media once again empty of Egypt’s tourists.
Tourism activity has not ceased in the land of Pharaohs. The magnificent temples of Luxor are always visited, the Red Sea still attracts lovers of the underwater beauty and a calm atmosphere and eternal reign as always on the banks of the Nile.
Nothing broadcasts about this and it seems to be difficult thinking Egypt for holidays from this information mass. And so! Egypt is not confined to the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.
Egyptians are waiting for you!
Lovers of Egypt are filled to come in those days usually crowded buses stinking sunscreen pukes in temples and tombs, here it is calm and serene to spend his own time in one of the finest place in the world! There are places to avoid, however, but you can count on the news to be informed!

Beautiful things aren’t anymore interesting to broadcast it? Objective informations would become a luxury?

The land of the Pharaohs in others crossed!

Thoth, God of Knowledge and Writing