Henry

2013

Valley of the Kings

Henry Barber Catherine Cook School 1/1/2013

Table of Contents What’s the Valley of the Kings?…………………………………………………………….Page 3-4 History of the Valley of the King…………………………………………………………….Page 4-5 Tombs………………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 5 How did pharaohs get mummified?...............................................................................Page 6-7 Glossary………………………………………………………………………………………………..Page 8 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 9

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In ancient Egypt life was as important as death. When a pharaoh died he needed to get mummified and then get in his tomb (a good place to leave his body and go to the afterlife). Pyramid tombs were easily robbed, so they made a Valley of the Kings.

Do you know what the Valley of the Kings is? The Valley of the Kings is a valley that the kings were buried in. It was built there because the Nile was close by. When a pharaoh died he was 3

mummified and then brought to the valley so he could go to the second life. When the mummy was mummified it went down the Nile in a boat to the valley. The funeral of the king was when he arrived. The valley was secret to tomb robbers. But the tombs still got robbed. The valley was easily protected from tomb robbers most of the time. The valley was big because it was used a lot. There are two Valley of the Kings (East and West).

The history of the Valley of the Kings goes back to the 18th dynasty. There’s a Valley of the Kings because pyramids were targets of tomb robbers. The valley could be defended easily. In the 18th dynasty they started to build rock cut tombs in the valley. The valley was chosen because it was hidden behind a cliff. It took 30 minutes to walk down into the valley when they brought the mummy. Not all tombs were intact when a mummy was buried.

They made the valley bigger each time a pharaoh died. The valley is 4

known as Doorway or Gateway of the Kings. The valley was uncovered in 1922. The use of the Valley of the Kings stopped in the 20th Dynasty.

Pharaohs were buried in tombs. They cut the tomb in to the valley walls. Some tombs were hidden and some were in the open when they were made. There were 63 tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Almost each pharaoh had their own tomb. Some tombs weren’t finished before the pharaoh was buried. Kings were buried with treasure and other things they would need in the afterlife.

Tombs were stuffed with gold and jewels. Tombs were painted and had pictures. Tombs had been raided in the Valley of the Kings for the treasure in the tombs.

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Mummies had finger and toe protectors

It was important for a dead pharaoh to be mummified. Normal people could not be mummified. They got buried in the hot sand.

Embalmers did all the mummification. It took 70 days to get mummified. Only the brain, lungs, liver, intestines, and stomach were removed by bare hand, but the brain was removed with a hook through the nose. Canopic jars contained the stomach, lungs, and intestines. They soaked the, lungs, liver, intestines, stomach, and body in natron so they can dry out. Natron could make the dead body shrink. The mummy wore jewelry when he was buried.

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The Valley of the Kings was important because the kings were buried there. There’s a Valley of the Kings because pyramids were a target of tomb robbers. Tombs were cut into the valley walls.

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Glossary Buried: the act of burying Canopic jars: A covered urn used to hold the eternal organs from an embalmed body.

Funeral: A ceremony of a death.

Mummy: A human or animal, who is dried and there organs are preserved.

Natron: A mineral salt found in dried lake beds consisting of hydrated sodium carbonates.

Pharaoh: The ruler of Egypt.

Tomb: A burial chamber.

Tomb robbers: Robbers that steel from a pharaohs tomb.

Treasure: Wealth (as money, jewels, or precious metals) stored up or held in reserve.

Valley: A low point in land.

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Bibliography (2003, July 2). Retrieved March 13, 2013, from Theban Mapping project: www.thebanmappingproject.com James, T. (1926). Egyptology. Cambiridge: Candle wick.

Malam, J. (n.d.).

Malam, J. (2003). Mummies. Boston: King fisher.

Smith, M. (2010). Ancient Egypt. New York: King fisher.

Steele, P. (2000). Find out about Ancient Egypt. London: South water.

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