The Valley of the Kings is a pair of desert valleys (called wadis) just west of the ancient city of Thebes (now Luxor), Egypt, where, for five hundred years (the 16th to 11th centuries BC), underground burial chambers (tombs) were carved for pharaohs of the New Kingdom (East Valley) and powerful nobles (West Valley).

This unique area is on the edge of the Nile Valley, and these valleys cut into the edge of the nearby desert plateau.

The first pharaohs ( of the Old Kingdom) were buried in huge tombs we call pyramids in Lower Egypt, near ancient Memphis (now Cairo). But these were far too expensive to continue building. As a result a new place had to be found, and the one chosen was close to the religious centre we know as Thebes. Some people think that the shape of the mountain above the valley area resembles a pyramid. You can see it in the picture above.

The valley area contains at least 63 tombs including that of Tutankhamun. Each of the tombs has a long passageway leading to one or more underground caves (chambers). The walls of these caves are very highly decorated with pictures from Egyptian mythology.

The problem was that it was obvious where the tombs were, as they were all concentrated together, and over the centuries, grave robbers have taken the grave goods of most tombs. Tutankhamun's tomb was a fortunate exception. His tomb was overlooked because the entrance is small.

It is likely that more tombs will be found in the future.