WV25

Welcome to the Western Valley of the Kings, often referred to as the Wadi el-Gurud, or the 'Valley of the Monkeys.' We are standing at the entrance to WV25, a tomb that represents one of the most intriguing 'what ifs' in Egyptian…

As we step into the entrance of WV25, we begin our descent into the limestone bedrock. The first corridor, known as Corridor A, is wide and steep, a characteristic feature of royal tombs of the late 18th Dynasty. …

We have reached the end of the excavated portion of WV25, which opens into a single, large unfinished chamber. This was likely intended to be the pillared hall or a transitional space leading to the burial chamber. …

Let us take a moment to reflect on the discovery of this site. Giovanni Battista Belzoni, the former circus strongman turned explorer, was the first European to enter this tomb. …

To understand why WV25 was started here, we must look at the precedent set by Akhenaten’s father, Amenhotep III. He was the first to build a truly grand royal tomb in the Western Valley (WV22). …

Even though WV25 was never finished for a Pharaoh, it did not remain empty forever. As we mentioned, Belzoni found evidence that the tomb was reused during the Third Intermediate Period (c. …

As we conclude our look at WV25, it is worth considering what still lies hidden in the Western Valley. Unlike the main valley, which has been poked and prodded for centuries, the Western Valley still feels like a frontier. …

As we step out from the shadows of WV25 and back into the brilliant sunlight of the Western Valley, take a moment to absorb the silence. We have explored a space that was born of ambition and abandoned in revolution. …