KV20, Ancient tomb in Valley of the Kings, Egypt
KV20 is a royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor that extends 210 meters deep into limestone rock. Multiple chambers are connected by steep corridors whose walls are covered with hieroglyphics and religious symbols.
The tomb was built during the 18th dynasty around 1500 BCE and was first the resting place of Pharaoh Thutmose I. Later it became the burial site of Queen Hatshepsut, who had her royal remains moved there.
The wall paintings show scenes from religious texts describing how the deceased would journey into the afterlife. Visitors can see what ancient Egyptians believed and hoped about the life that would come after death.
The tomb sits on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor and can be reached via a steep marked path. The passages are narrow and slope steeply downward, so visitors should bring sturdy shoes and a flashlight.
This tomb was the first royal burial site created in the Valley of the Kings and thus set the style for all later pharaonic tombs. The innovative features of this early monument showed builders how to shape future underground structures.
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