KV42, Ancient tomb in Valley of the Kings, Egypt
KV42 is a royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings that descends through a sloping corridor into multiple rooms dug from limestone rock. The layout guides visitors deeper into the mountain toward a main burial chamber where funerary goods were once placed.
The tomb was built during the New Kingdom, a period when Egyptian rulers invested heavily in rock-cut burial sites in the valley. Its design reflects the burial practices and architectural choices that pharaohs of that era preferred for their tombs.
The hieroglyphics and wall paintings visible inside reflect how ancient Egyptian people understood death and what came after. Walking through, you see scenes that were meant to guide and protect the person buried there on their journey beyond life.
Access to this tomb requires special research permits from local authorities, as it is a protected archaeological site in the valley. Visitors interested in exploring it should arrange permissions in advance through official channels.
Internal shafts within the tomb were specifically designed to confuse and block tomb robbers from reaching the burial chamber. These defensive passages reveal how seriously ancient Egyptians took the protection of their royal graves.
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