KV38, Ancient tomb in Valley of the Kings, Egypt
KV38 is a rock-cut royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, carved roughly 18 meters (60 ft) into the limestone. It consists of a long descending corridor that leads to a burial chamber, following the standard layout of 18th Dynasty royal tombs.
The tomb was originally built for Pharaoh Thutmose I, one of the early rulers of the 18th Dynasty. Thutmose III later ordered the transfer of his ancestor's remains to this location, changing the pharaoh's original burial place.
KV38 follows the classic layout of Egyptian royal tombs: a long corridor leading to a burial chamber where the sarcophagus once stood. Visitors who enter the space can still read the logic of the room, designed to guide the dead toward the next world.
The tomb is located within the Valley of the Kings, which is easily reached from central Luxor. Comfortable shoes and sun protection are helpful, as the paths between tombs are open and unshaded.
When Victor Loret discovered the tomb in 1899, researchers debated whether it was originally built for Thutmose I or only repurposed for him later by Thutmose III. That question has not been fully settled, making this one of the few royal tombs whose original attribution is still discussed.
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