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Nile Cruise - Valley of the Kings
It seems that the Egyptians favoured building their tombs on the west bank of the Nile facing the setting sun which might have been seen to represent the journey through the dark after death towards the after-life. The pyramid was a tomb symbol because the apex pointed heavenward towards the sun. Some people think that the Valley of the Kings was chosen as a site for the tombs of the New Kingdom Pharoahs because of the geological structure on top of the hill behind which looked like a pyramid.
In a way, there isn't much to see outside the tombs. The scenery is very dry and stark. Inside the tombs, the walls are beautifully painted. I visited Tutankhamun's tomb which contained one of his coffins. I also saw all of Tutankhamun's tomb treasure in the Egyptian Museum. Virtually all of the treasure buried with the Pharoahs has been stolen, often by workmen who built the tombs and didn't get paid. It's also said that the highest officials connived in disposing of the treasure too. Corruption in high places... So much for dreams of the after-life.
E-mail: gplonker@usa.net
