Valley of the Queens

The Valley of the Queens is a place in Egypt where wives of pharaohs 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 the Nile across from Thebes (modern Luxor). 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 Queen Nefertari (1290–1224 BCE) of the 19th Dynasty. The polychrome reliefs in her tomb are still intact.
==Principal burials==
* QV8 Hori, King's Son (18th dynasty) and a King's Daughter
* QV17 Merytre and Wermeryotes, princesses (18th dynasty)
* QV30 Nebiri, Head of the Stables unknown danasty
* QV33 Princess Tanedjmet (19th or 20th dynasty)
* QV38 Queen Sitre, wife of Ramesses I (19th dynasty)
* QV42 Pareherwenemef, son of Ramesses III (20th dynasty)
* QV43 Seth-her-khopsef, son of Ramesses III, later king as Ramesses VIII. Was buried elsewhere. (20th dynasty)
* QV44 Khaemwaset, son of Ramesses III (20th dynasty)
* QV46 Imhotep, vizier under Thutmose I (18th dynasty)
* QV47 Princess Ahmose, daughter of Tao II the Brave and Sitdjehuti (17th dynasty)
* QV51 Queen Iset Ta-Hemdjert, wife of Ramesses III, mother of Ramesses VI (20th dynasty)
* QV52 Queen Tyti (19th or 20th dynasty)
* QV53 Prince Ramesses, son of Ramesses III (20th dynasty)
* QV55 Prince Amun-her-khepeshef, son of Ramesses III (20th dynasty)
* QV60 Queen Nebettawy, daughter of Ramesses II (19th dynasty)
* QV66 Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramesses II (19th dynasty)
* QV68 Queen Meritamun, daughter of Ramesses II and Nefertari (19th dynasty)
* QV70 Nehesy (18th dynasty)
* QV71 Queen Bintanath, daughter of Ramesses II and Isetnofret (19th dynasty)
* QV72 Neferhat / Baki (18th dynasty)
* QV73 Queen Henuttawy? (possibly dated to the 20th Dynasty)
* QV74 Queen (Dua)Tentopet
* QV75 Queen Henutmire, daughter or sister of Ramesses II
* QV76 Merytre, King's Daughter (18th Dynasty)
* QV80 Queen (Mut-)Tuy, wife of Seti I and mother of Ramesses II.
* QV81 Heka[...] (18th Dynasty)
* QV82 Minemhat and Amenhotep, King's Sons (18th Dynasty)
* QV88 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 Thutmose 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==
Category:Ancient Egypt