Valley of the Queens

The Valley of the Queens is a site in Egypt, in which queens, princes, princesses, and other high-ranking officials were buried from roughly 1560 BC to 1130 BC. Pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Queens was known anciently as Ta-Set-Neferu, which has a double meaning of "The Place of Beauty" and/or "the Place of the Royal Children". Excavation of the tombs at the Valley of the Queens was pioneered by Ernesto Schiaparelli and Francesco Ballerini in the early 1900s.

Its historical story is also significant: the Valley of the Queens was known anciently as Ta-Set-Neferu, which has a double meaning of "The Place of Beauty" and/or "the Place of the Royal Children". Its historical story is also significant: the burials in the subsidiary valleys all date to the 18th Dynasty.

Among its defining features, excavation of the tombs at the Valley of the Queens was pioneered by Ernesto Schiaparelli and Francesco Ballerini in the early 1900s. Among its defining features, the Valley of the Queens includes the main wadi, which contains most of the tombs, along with the Valley of Prince Ahmose, the Valley of the Rope, the Valley of the Three Pits, and the Valley of the Dolmen. Among its defining features, the main wadi contains 91 tombs and the subsidiary valleys add another 19 tombs. Among its defining features, the reason for choosing the Valley of the Queens as a burial site is not known. Among its defining features, another consideration could have been the existence of a sacred grotto dedicated to Hathor at the entrance of the Valley.

Experiences depend on season, access and available guides. Sightseeing, photography and locally organised activities are typical starting points; confirm availability before travel.

Check current access, fees, transport, safety and opening arrangements with the official operator or a trusted local source. Conditions can change with weather and management decisions.