KV2

Welcome to KV2, the final resting place of Ramesses the Fourth, a monarch of the Twentieth Dynasty. Unlike many tombs that were deliberately hidden, KV2 has been open since antiquity, its grand entrance beckoning visitors for…

As you move into the first corridor, stop and look at the walls. You are witnessing the 'Litany of Ra,' a crucial funerary text where the King is identified with seventy-five different forms of the sun god. …

We now arrive at the heart of the tomb: the burial chamber. The focal point is the colossal granite sarcophagus. …

One of the most fascinating aspects of KV2 is its 'second life' during the early Christian era. In the fifth and sixth centuries, the Valley of the Kings became a refuge for Coptic monks and hermits. …

KV2 is uniquely important for what it tells us about the how of tomb construction. We have more written documentation for the creation of this tomb than almost any other. …

In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Egypt was already an 'ancient' land, and the Valley of the Kings was a prime tourist destination. KV2 was known then as the 'Tomb of Memnon,' based on a misunderstanding of the Egyptian…

As we reach the furthest recesses of the tomb, the atmosphere becomes heavier. These rear chambers were intended for the storage of the King’s vast funerary equipment—the chariots, beds, and chests of treasure seen in…

As we emerge from the cool depths of KV2 back into the bright Egyptian sun, take a moment to look at the entrance once more. This tomb has been a silent witness to three millennia of human history. …