KV17

Welcome to KV17, widely regarded by scholars and travelers alike as the most spectacular tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Discovered in 1817 by the flamboyant explorer Giovanni Belzoni, this is the final resting place of Pharaoh…

As we pass through the entrance and begin our descent into the first two corridors, look at the walls surrounding you. You are entering the 'Litany of Ra,' a sacred text that praises the seventy-five forms of the sun god. …

At the bottom of the second corridor, we encounter the 'Ritual Well.' While it may look like a simple shaft, it served two crucial purposes: first, to drain any flash-flood waters that might enter the tomb, protecting the lower…

We now descend further into the heart of KV17: the Burial Chamber. This is the climax of the tomb's architecture. …

To the left of the burial chamber lies a large side room supported by two pillars. This area is unique for its stone benches running along the walls, likely used to store the massive amount of funerary furniture, statues, and…

One of the most enduring mysteries of KV17 lies beyond the burial chamber: an unfinished, steeply descending passage that continues for another 170 meters into the mountain. Today, it is blocked for safety and requires…

As we begin our climb back toward the surface, we must acknowledge the modern folklore that has grown around KV17. In local Egyptian tradition, this tomb is sometimes associated with a guardian spirit or demon named 'Matar.'…

We have returned to the blinding light and dry heat of the valley floor. The climb back up from the burial chamber is often the moment when visitors truly realize the scale of Seti I’s achievement. …

Our tour of KV17, the tomb of Seti the First, has come to an end. We have traversed the long corridors of the Litany of Ra, marveled at the unfinished sketches of ancient masters, and contemplated the cosmos in the vaulted burial…