The priceless art that adorns the walls remained intact to give modern scholars a vivid look into the intricate art that revealed Egyptian spirituality and funerary rituals surrounding the death of a king. However, without golden grave goods or even the pharoah's mummy, Seti’s tomb still had myriad treasures. ( Judicial power flowed from pharaohs-even after death.)ĭespite attempts to hide their contents by the use of concealed passages, most tombs-with the famous exception of the tomb of Tutankhamun-were extensively looted, including Seti I’s. Other New Kingdom rulers placed their tombs there, and the necropolis grew. The remote spot was chosen to hide lavish royal burials from tomb raiders. A grand tomb was prepared for Thutmose, cut into the rock of the rugged desert valleys on the Nile’s west bank.
Building this great desert necropolis began during the reign of Thutmose I, third king of the 18th dynasty, whose rule marked the resurgence of Egypt following a long period of instability.
The Valley of the Kings was the burial site of many rulers of Egypt’s New Kingdom (circa 1539-1075 B.C.), when Egypt rose to new heights of power and influence.
