Sunday 05/October/2025 – 05:12 AM
Luxor Governorate witnessed the opening of the King Amenhotep III cemetery in the Wadi al -Kings area in the western mainland, after the completion of the restoration and preservation work, which lasted for more than twenty years in the framework of an international project to preserve the murals of the cemetery, which was carried out by the Supreme Council of Antiquities in cooperation with the universities of Wasida and Hijji Nippon, Japanese, and sponsored by UNESCO through the Japanese Board.
Three international restoration stages that saved a unique royal treasure
The project began in 2001 in three consecutive stages, which included advanced works for the restoration of mural and granite paintings, and raised the efficiency of stairs and lighting systems inside the cemetery.
An international team of Egyptian, Italian and Japanese experts participated in the implementation in the areas of restoration, architecture, 3D survey, and stones and murals, which made a qualitative shift in the level of conservation within the royal cemetery.
Royal coffin restoration and assembly of more than 200 pieces of red granite
The works included maintenance of the murals that decorate the walls and ceilings of the cemetery rooms (E, I and J), in addition to the restoration of the capacity of King Amenhotep III made of red granite, where more than 200 pieces were collected and re -installed on a metal base to present to visitors in a form worthy of the king’s position and history.
An official opening more than 20 years of restoration work between Egypt and Japan sponsored by UNESCO
The entrance to the cemetery was provided with introductory and explanatory paintings in various languages explaining the history of the cemetery and its restoration stages, in addition to the presentation of a general plan from the inside to facilitate the movement of visitors and provide a distinctive cultural and educational experience within the Valley of the Kings.
An exciting discovery story that started since the French campaign and ended with Carter
The story of the discovery of the cemetery dates back to 1799 when it was monitored by the French engineers, Prosper Julouh and Edward de Felier de Terraj during the French campaign against Egypt, while it was known before the British traveler William George Brown.
In 1915, the famous archaeologist Howard Carter revealed the contents of the cemetery completely, which represented an important scientific addition to studying the tombs of the Valley of the Kings.
Technical treasure from the modern state
The King Amenhotep III cemetery is one of the largest and most decorative royal graves in the Valley of the Kings, as it reflects the splendor of Egyptian art in the era of prosperity during the modern state.
Its walls are adorned with religious inscriptions representing the king’s journey in the other world and his meetings with the gods, while their roof is decorated with yellow stars against a dark blue background symbolizing eternal sky, and the walls of the burial room cover the texts of the famous Emidat book.
From the fourth tudabs to the mummies cabinet
Archaeological evidence indicates that the work of the cemetery began during the reign of Tuthmosis the Fourth, the father of King Amenhotep III, who continued to complete and decorate it.
And it was transferred in the era of the twenty -first family, the king’s mummy to the royal mummies in the Amenhotep II Cemetery (KV35) to protect it from theft after the original cemetery was subjected to looting during periods of turmoil.
