KV5, Royal tomb in Valley of the Kings, Egypt
This royal tomb runs over 440 meters into the limestone cliffs and holds more than 130 connected chambers. The layout centers around a pillared hall from which numerous corridors and smaller rooms branch off.
The tomb was built during the reign of Ramses II in the 13th century BCE. Archaeologists entered the outer sections in 1825, but the full scale remained unknown until an American team rediscovered it in 1995.
The tomb served as a burial complex for multiple sons of Pharaoh Ramesses II, featuring detailed wall carvings and ceremonial chambers for Egyptian funeral rituals.
Access happens through guided tours in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor. Most areas remain closed for research, but visitors can see the accessible sections with enough light.
Only about seven percent of the total area has been excavated so far, and digging continues. Researchers believe many undiscovered chambers still lie deeper in the hillside.
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