Amenhotep III’s Grand Tomb Reopens in Luxor After Decades-Long Restoration

LUXOR, Egypt – In a major cultural and tourism development, Egypt officially reopened the monumental tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III on Saturday in Luxor. This marks the first time in over two decades that visitors can explore the massive burial site, located within the famed Valley of the Kings, following an extensive restoration project.

Amenhotep III, a powerful pharaoh who ruled ancient Egypt between 1390 B.C. and 1350 B.C., now has his tomb accessible to the public. Discovered in 1799 and looted of its original contents, the tomb has undergone a meticulous, Japanese-led three-phase renovation. This included the careful restoration of wall paintings depicting the pharaoh, his wives Queens Tiye and Sitamun, ancient Egyptian gods, and intricate scenes from the Book of the Dead.

The tomb’s architecture is striking, featuring a 36-meter-long, downward-sloping passageway that leads to the main burial chamber and additional chambers for his queens. Although not as extensively decorated as some other tombs in the valley, its unique inscriptions and the preserved frame of the stolen sarcophagus box offer invaluable insights into ancient funerary rituals.

This significant reopening precedes the much-anticipated official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids on November 1. Both initiatives are pivotal to Egypt’s broader strategy to attract more international tourists and revitalize its crucial tourism sector, a primary source of foreign currency that has been recovering from the downturns experienced after the 2011 political turmoil.

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