KV7

Welcome to KV7, the final resting place of one of the richest and most powerful men to have ever lived on Earth: Ramses the Second, often called Ramses the Great. As you stand in the Valley of the Kings, surrounded by the…

The entrance to KV7 tells a story of both grandeur and environmental destruction. When Ramses the Second commissioned this tomb, it was intended to be the ultimate palace for his afterlife. …

As you descend deeper into the tomb, you are surrounded by the limestone and sandstone walls that once bore the most exquisite carvings in all of Egypt. Ramses the Second ensured that his tomb was a masterpiece of the 'Book of…

The deeper sections of KV7 open into vast pillared halls that were designed to represent the various stages of the sun god's journey. These massive stone columns are not merely decorative; they are essential structural elements…

A standard feature of many royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings is the ritual shaft, a deep pit that served multiple purposes: it acted as a symbolic burial for the god Osiris, a 'soul-trap' for grave robbers, and a practical…

Finally, we reach the heart of the tomb: the burial chamber. This was once the most sacred spot in all of Egypt, the place where the mummified remains of Ramses the Great were laid to rest inside a series of nested sarcophagi. …

As we begin our ascent back toward the valley floor, we contemplate the future of KV7. For much of the twentieth century, this tomb was a lost cause, a 'mud-filled hole' that seemed beyond saving. …

Our journey through KV7 has taken us from the sun-drenched valley floor into the very heart of a king's ambition. We have seen the devastating power of the floods and the incredible resilience of both ancient architecture and…