The Majestic Tomb of Queen Nefertari: A Monument to Ancient Egyptian Royalty

The Tomb of Queen Nefertari tells the narrative of the construction of one of the most spectacular tombs in Luxor’s Valley of the Queens in ancient Egypt. The tomb of Queen Nefertari, wife of King Ramses II, and the vital information it offers about pharaonic civilization

History of Tomb of Queen Nefertari

The tomb of Queen Nefertari is one of the most magnificent tombs in terms of pharaonic patterns and inscriptions. Queen Nefertari is the wife of King Ramses II. Queen Nefertari was the favourite wife of King Ramses II, and sculptures of the queen can be seen in the temple of Abu Simbel, close to the king.

The tomb of Queen Nefertari is considered one of the most beautiful tombs in the Valley of the Queens.It was discovered in 1904.The tomb was officially opened after the restoration and removal of saltpetre deposits on the walls of the tomb in the early 1990s.

Over time, and due to climatic conditions and erosion, the tomb suffered a lot of damage, especially in the burial chamber.

Structure of Tomb of Queen Nefertari

The Tomb of Queen Nefertari opens with a ramp leading to a chamber with two vaulted cornices and paintings of Queen Nefertari adoring Osiris and Anubis as well as the four sons of Horus to the right of the entry, then a double tomb to the left of the entrance shows Nefertari’s twin sister (ka).

Images of Queen Nefertari worshipping the seven holy cows and the bull, as well as the four oars of Heaven, can be found on the right and left of the walls, as well as inscriptions.

The burial room of the queen

The burial room of the queen has a pharaonic inscription from the Book of the Gates, as well as a vast pit to accommodate the royal sarcophagus by stairs. The burial chamber has three more chambers on the sides, each with four columns in two rows, holding an inscription of Queen Nefertari and the ancient Egyptian gods.

The beautiful art on the walls

Queen Nefertari’s tomb is famous for its magnificent pharaonic artwork. According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, the four columns contain inscriptions depicting the priest Ion Mut-ef, who plays the role of Horus, who supports the backs of his mother Isis and Osiris, while the other drawings depict buildings that existed in the other world after the time guarded by the return and the magical spells that protected Queen Nefertari on her way to her eternal rest.

The second room of the tomb

The second room on the left has the South and North painted in the shape of snakes, and on the wall are Imesty and Doua Mout-ef as they construct a residence for Queen Nefertari in the other realm.

On the right side of the room is a painting of Horus’ sons, and on the rear wall are drawings of the queen’s names and titles, with a picture of the God Thoth on the column.

On the left, there are inscriptions of Queen Nefertari in front of Hathor the goddess cow, then in front of a drawing by Anubis and another drawing of the winged gods on the back wall, but the inscriptions on this side have faded over time, as they did in the back room, and there are no more clear inscriptions left.

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Also read: The Secret Tombs of the Mountain of the Dead in Egypt