KV20

Welcome to the Valley of the Kings, a desolate limestone wadi on the West Bank of Luxor that served as the final resting place for the New Kingdom's elite for nearly five hundred years. As we stand here, surrounded by the…

Descending into KV20 is an experience unlike any other in the valley. While most tombs follow a relatively straight or jogged axis, this tomb executes a dramatic, clockwise semi-circular curve. …

To understand KV20, we must look at the man who first commissioned it: Thutmose the First. He was the grandfather of the New Kingdom's expansion, and his decision to be buried here in this hidden wadi marked a radical departure…

The burial chamber of KV20 is a cavernous space at the end of the long spiral, once meant to hold the mortal remains of the most powerful woman in the world. When Carter entered this chamber, he found it in a state of ruin,…

One of the most fascinating twists in the story of KV20 is the eventual fate of Hatshepsut's mummy. For centuries, the location of her remains was one of Egyptology's greatest mysteries. …

While the tombs of the Valley of the Kings focus on the eternal spirit, modern science allows us to look back at the physical reality of the people buried here. The medical examination of the mummy identified as Hatshepsut…

The story of KV20 is also the story of the men and women who dedicated their lives to uncovering it. While Howard Carter is the most famous name associated with the tomb's discovery in 1903, the broader exploration of the…

As we emerge from the cool, dark corridors of KV20 back into the brilliant Egyptian sun, take a moment to reflect on what you have seen. This tomb, with its unprecedented depth and unconventional design, is a perfect metaphor for…