The Necropolis of Thebes - or the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor - comprises several areas, of which the Valley of the Kings is the best known. We had a couple of visits to this fascinating area.
As you cross the Nile from Luxor, one of the first ancient monuments you come across are these gigantic statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once guarded his mortuary temple.
There is more on the Colossi of Memnon here
For nearly 500 years, Pharaohs chose this area for their burials. Possibly the most famous archaeological site in the world, helped in this regard by Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb here. Not much to take photos of as of course everything is deep underground. However, if you do sneak your camera in........
You can see what I mean,
at the Valley of the Kings
Nearby to the Valley of the Kings is Queen Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple in the most spectacular setting for a monument you could possibly imagine. Three enormous terraces linked by ramps lead into the vertical cliff face. My photographs can only hint at the impact you get when approaching this temple.
There are more photos of Queen Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple
Also in the Necropolis of Thebes is the Valley of the Nobles and the Workers village of Deir el Medina. Unlike the Pharaohs, the nobles decorated their tombs with scenes depicting their daily life. Thus they make for a very interesting comparison to the religious scenes in the Pharaohs' tombs.
There are more photos of the Valley of the Nobles and Deir el Medina
