Fridays – The Valley of the Queens: Inside the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, Beloved Wife of King Ramses the Great

7/11 & 7/18 @ 11:00 AM/CH

Instructor: Stephen “Dr. Steve” Phillips, Ph.D.

One of the most spectacularly decorated, and best preserved, royal tombs in Egypt is in the Valley of the Queens, adjacent to the Valley of the Kings, near ancient Thebes.

The Valley of the Queens served as the royal burial ground for several of the queens and royal children of Egypt’s New Kingdom period, the “golden age” era of Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II. The tomb of Queen Nefertari had been closed off to the public for decades, as a means of preserving the stunning artwork covering every wall. After more than a decade of conservation by the Getty Institute and the Egyptian government, the tomb was reopened to the public in 2016, to a strictly limited number of visitors per day, to boost regional tourism.

This lecture takes us inside Nefertari’s tomb, room by spectacular room, without having to leave home, to gain an understanding of the tomb’s function and to witness the marvels of a final resting place that is truly fit for a queen.