Valley of the Queens
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The Valley of the Queens, also known as Biban el-Harim (Arabic: بيبان الحريم), Biban el-Sultanat (Arabic: بيبان السلطانات), and Wadi el-Melikat (Arabic: وادي الملكات), is a place in Egypt where wives of Pharaohs were buried in ancient times. In ancient times, it was known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning –‘the place of the Children of the Pharaoh’, because along with the Queens of the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties (1550–1070 BCE) many princes and princesses were also buried with various members of the nobility. The tombs of these individuals were maintained by mortuary priests who performed daily rituals and provided offerings and prayers for the deceased nobility.
The valley is located near the better known Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of the Nile across from Thebes (modern Luxor) . This barren area in the western hills was chosen due to its relative isolation and proximity to the capital. The kings of the 18th dynasty, instead of the traditional building of pyramids as burial chambers (perhaps because of their vulnerability to tomb robbers), now chose to be buried in rock-cut tombs.
This necropolis is said to hold more than seventy tombs, many of which are stylish and lavishly decorated. An example of this is the resting place carved out of the rock for Queen Nefertari (1290–1224 BCE) of the 19th Dynasty. The polychrome reliefs in her tomb are still intact.
[edit] Principal burials
- QV8 – Hori, King's Son (18th dynasty) and a King's Daughter
- QV17 – Merytre and Wermeryotes, princesses (18th dynasty)
- QV30 – Nebiri, Head of the Stables (18th dynasty)
- QV33 – Princess Tanedjmet (19th or 20th dynasty)
- QV38 – Queen Sitre, wife of Ramesses I
- QV42 – Pa-ra-her-unemef, son of Ramesses III
- QV43 – Seth-her-khopsef, son of Ramesses III
- QV44 – Khaemwaset, son of Ramesses III
- QV46 – Imhotep, vizier under Thutmose I
- QV47 – Princess Ahmose, daughter of Tao II the Brave and Sitdjehuti
- QV51 – Queen Isis-ta-Habadjilat, wife of Ramesses III, mother of Ramesses VI
- QV52 – Queen Tyti (19th or 20th dynasty)
- QV53 – Prince Ramesses, son of Ramesses III
- QV55 – Prince Amun-her-khepeshef, son of Ramesses III
- QV60 – Queen Nebettawy, daughter of Ramesses II
- QV66 – Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramesses II
- QV68 – Queen Meritamun, daughter of Ramesses II and Nefertari
- QV71 – Queen Bintanath, daughter of Ramesses II and Isetnofret
- QV72 – Neferhat / Baki
- QV73 – Queen Henuttawy? (possibly dated to the 20th Dynasty)
- QV74 – (Dua)Tentopet
- QV75 – Henutmire, daughter or sister of Ramesses II
- QV76 – Merytre, King's Daughter (18th Dynasty)
- QV80 – Queen (Mut-)Tuy, Wife of Seti I and mother of Ramesses II. Daughter of Raia (an officer of the chariotry) and his wife (R)uia.
- QV81 – Heka..., (18th Dynasty)
- QV82 – Minemhat and Amenhotep, King's Sons (18th Dynasty)
- QV88 – Ahmose, King's Son (18th Dynasty)
[edit] Other Burials
Fragments of burial equipments were found for several additional members of the royal family. No known tombs exist for these individuals but the existence of the burial equipment suggests that these people may have once been buried in the Valley of the Queens as well.[1]
- King's Wife Henut. Mid 18th Dynasty. Her name was enclosed in a cartouche on canopic fragments.
- Prince Menkheperre, Son of Tuthmosis III and Merytre Hatshepsut. Canopic fragments were found.
- King's Great Wife Nebetnehat. Mid 18th Dynasty. Her name was enclosed in a cartouche on canopic fragments.
- King's Daughter Ti. Mid 18th Dynasty. Canopic fragments were found.
[edit] References
- ^ Dodson A. and Hilton D. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, London 2004
[edit] External links
- Bunson, Margaret. "Valley of the Queens." Encyclopædia of Ancient Egypt. New York. (1991)
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