- Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens, also known as "Biban el-Harim" ( _ar. بيبان الحريم), "Biban el-Sultanat" ( _ar. بيبان السلطانات), and "Wadi el-Melikat" ( _ar. وادي الملكات), is a place in
Egypt where wives ofPharaoh s 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 theNile across from Thebes (modernLuxor ) . 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 QueenNefertari (1290–1224 BCE) of the 19th Dynasty. Thepolychrome reliefs in her tomb are still intact.Principal burials
*
QV8 ndash Hori, King's Son (18th dynasty) and a King's Daughter
*QV17 ndash Merytre and Wermeryotes, princesses (18th dynasty)
*QV30 ndash Nebiri, Head of the Stables (18th dynasty)
*QV33 ndash Princess Tanedjmet (19th or 20th dynasty)
*QV38 ndashQueen Sitre , wife ofRamesses I
*QV42 ndash Pa-ra-her-unemef, son ofRamesses III
*QV43 ndash Seth-her-khopsef, son of Ramesses III
*QV44 ndash Khaemwaset, son of Ramesses III
*QV46 ndash Imhotep, vizier underThutmose I
*QV47 ndash Princess Ahmose, daughter ofTao II the Brave andSitdjehuti
*QV51 ndash QueenIset Ta-Hemdjert , wife of Ramesses III, mother ofRamesses VI
*QV52 ndash Queen Tyti (19th or 20th dynasty)
*QV53 ndash Prince Ramesses, son of Ramesses III
*QV55 ndash PrinceAmun-her-khepeshef , son of Ramesses III
*QV60 ndash QueenNebettawy , daughter of Ramesses II
*QV66 ndash QueenNefertari , wife of Ramesses II
*QV68 ndash QueenMeritamun , daughter of Ramesses II and Nefertari
*QV71 ndash QueenBintanath , daughter of Ramesses II andIsetnofret
*QV72 ndash Neferhat / Baki
*QV73 ndash Queen Henuttawy? (possibly dated to the 20th Dynasty)
*QV74 ndash (Dua)Tentopet
*QV75 ndashHenutmire , daughter or sister of Ramesses II
*QV76 ndash Merytre, King's Daughter (18th Dynasty)
*QV80 ndash 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 ndash Heka..., (18th Dynasty)
*QV82 ndash Minemhat and Amenhotep, King's Sons (18th Dynasty)
*QV88 ndash Ahmose, King's Son (18th Dynasty)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. [Dodson A. and Hilton D. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, London 2004]
* 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.References
External links
* Bunson, Margaret. "Valley of the Queens." Encyclopædia of Ancient Egypt. New York. (1991)
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