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The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings
The royal necropolis of New Kingdom Egypt, known as the Valley of the Kings (KV), is one of the most important--and celebrated--archaeological sites in the world. Located on the west bank of the Nile river, about three miles west of modern Luxor, the valley is home to more than sixty tombs, all dating to the second millennium BCE. The most famous of these is the tomb of Tutankhamun, first discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Other famous pharaoh's interred here include Hatshepsut, the only queen found in the valley, and Ramesses II, ancient Egypt's greatest ruler. Much has transpired in the study and exploration of the Valley of the Kings over the last few years. Several major discoveries have been made, notably the many-chambered KV5 (tomb of the sons of Ramesses II) and KV 63, a previously unknown tomb found in the heart of the valley. Many areas of the royal valley have been explored for the first time using new technologies, revealing ancient huts, shrines, and stelae. New studies of the DNA, filiation, cranio-facial reconstructions, and other aspects of the royal mummies have produced important and sometimes controversial results.
The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings provides an up-to-date and thorough reference designed to fill a very real gap in the literature of Egyptology. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars, teachers, and researchers with an interest in this key area of Egyptian archaeology. First, introductory chapters locate the Valley of the Kings in space and time. Subsequent chapters offer focused examinations of individual tombs: their construction, content, development, and significance. Finally, the book discusses the current status of ongoing issues of preservation and archaeology, such as conservation, tourism, and site management. In addition to recent work mentioned above, aerial imaging, remote sensing, studies of the tombs' architectural and decorative symbolism, problems of conservation management, and studies of KV-related temples are just some of the aspects not covered in any other work on the Valley of the Kings. This volume promises to become the primary scholarly reference work on this important World Heritage Site.
The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings provides an up-to-date and thorough reference designed to fill a very real gap in the literature of Egyptology. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars, teachers, and researchers with an interest in this key area of Egyptian archaeology. First, introductory chapters locate the Valley of the Kings in space and time. Subsequent chapters offer focused examinations of individual tombs: their construction, content, development, and significance. Finally, the book discusses the current status of ongoing issues of preservation and archaeology, such as conservation, tourism, and site management. In addition to recent work mentioned above, aerial imaging, remote sensing, studies of the tombs' architectural and decorative symbolism, problems of conservation management, and studies of KV-related temples are just some of the aspects not covered in any other work on the Valley of the Kings. This volume promises to become the primary scholarly reference work on this important World Heritage Site.
648 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 18, 2017
This book was bloody expensive, and I only bought it after my day one (our of two) in the Valley of the Kings. It makes more sense to buy and read it before you go, though, as through it's scientific narrative it deeply enriches one's understanding of the Valley.
It is not a guide book, and tombs are not discussed one by one, which would be a welcome feature for someone like me. Instead, different aspects are discusses in each chapter, all written by separate experts: tomb construction, rituals, robbery, protection. I found them to be not only informative, but honest and not sensational or simplistic (as opposed to what one may hear from the guides on site).
The book often makes a reference to the Theban Mapping Project, even suggesting it might be more complete and up to date. When I tried to access it, however, it suffered from technical issues rendering it unusable.
The chapters don't need to be read one by one, it also makes sense to read them separately to address specific questions and needs.
Overall, comprehensive and reliable.
It is not a guide book, and tombs are not discussed one by one, which would be a welcome feature for someone like me. Instead, different aspects are discusses in each chapter, all written by separate experts: tomb construction, rituals, robbery, protection. I found them to be not only informative, but honest and not sensational or simplistic (as opposed to what one may hear from the guides on site).
The book often makes a reference to the Theban Mapping Project, even suggesting it might be more complete and up to date. When I tried to access it, however, it suffered from technical issues rendering it unusable.
The chapters don't need to be read one by one, it also makes sense to read them separately to address specific questions and needs.
Overall, comprehensive and reliable.
April 24, 2021
As one might guess from its title, this book is all about the Valley of the Kings, and only the Valley of the Kings. It barely mentions other sites, and only with reference to the KV. It's not a guidebook for tourists or travellers. It is written by experts and intended for those with a scholarly interest.
All that said, the book is not inaccessible to a non-academic reader, especially one with some background knowledge of Egyptology. The 38 chapters are written by 30 contributors, all with academic and specialist backgrounds. The writing styles vary, but are generally spare and restrained. Citations are embedded in the text, which can be distracting at times. Each chapter has its own bibliography, and there is a fairly good index. Some chapters use transliterations of ancient Egyptian terms that may be awkward reading for those not familiar with its conventions (like me). Finally, I was surprised to note a handful of typos and omissions, considering the publisher is Oxford University Press.
As expected, the book provides a thorough and intense examination of the Valley of the Kings and the tombs that have been discovered in it. Geology, hydrology, toponyms, and the history of the valley as a necropolis. Incredibly detailed descriptions of individual tombs, as well as the conventions for numbering the tombs and labelling the various parts of tombs. Descriptions of how the tombs were constructed and decorated. Symbolism and artistic styles would warrant a book of their own, or many such books; hence, I suspect that topic is somewhat abbreviated. I did note a stinginess when it comes to illustrations and maps, no doubt intended to reduce the price of the book (although at about $50, it's not cheap).
The parts of this volume I found most interesting were those relating to the administration of the Valley of the Kings when it was used as a royal necropolis, and the fact that the richly appointed tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty were regarded as a resource to be exploited by rulers in later times, who needed the gold and other valuables to finance their enterprises. Chapters on current noninvasive techniques of investigation and analysis of human remains were also interesting, as was the quite detailed look at tourism in the KV from Graeco-Roman times to the present. The final chapter presents a different angle, discussing the destruction in 2006 to 2010 of villages built on or near the Theban Necropolis in order to preserve the archaeology, but at the expense of the communities that have been part of the necropolis since ancient times.
This book does not provide much of a historical context. There are few references to the life stories of the pharaohs or events in the country at different periods. Time periods are described exclusively in terms of dynasties, rather than years BCE. The assumption is likely that readers will be aware of those matters already.
I recommend this book as a resource for those with a keen interest in the Valley of the Kings and its tombs, but perhaps not for the casual reader seeking something about the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
All that said, the book is not inaccessible to a non-academic reader, especially one with some background knowledge of Egyptology. The 38 chapters are written by 30 contributors, all with academic and specialist backgrounds. The writing styles vary, but are generally spare and restrained. Citations are embedded in the text, which can be distracting at times. Each chapter has its own bibliography, and there is a fairly good index. Some chapters use transliterations of ancient Egyptian terms that may be awkward reading for those not familiar with its conventions (like me). Finally, I was surprised to note a handful of typos and omissions, considering the publisher is Oxford University Press.
As expected, the book provides a thorough and intense examination of the Valley of the Kings and the tombs that have been discovered in it. Geology, hydrology, toponyms, and the history of the valley as a necropolis. Incredibly detailed descriptions of individual tombs, as well as the conventions for numbering the tombs and labelling the various parts of tombs. Descriptions of how the tombs were constructed and decorated. Symbolism and artistic styles would warrant a book of their own, or many such books; hence, I suspect that topic is somewhat abbreviated. I did note a stinginess when it comes to illustrations and maps, no doubt intended to reduce the price of the book (although at about $50, it's not cheap).
The parts of this volume I found most interesting were those relating to the administration of the Valley of the Kings when it was used as a royal necropolis, and the fact that the richly appointed tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty were regarded as a resource to be exploited by rulers in later times, who needed the gold and other valuables to finance their enterprises. Chapters on current noninvasive techniques of investigation and analysis of human remains were also interesting, as was the quite detailed look at tourism in the KV from Graeco-Roman times to the present. The final chapter presents a different angle, discussing the destruction in 2006 to 2010 of villages built on or near the Theban Necropolis in order to preserve the archaeology, but at the expense of the communities that have been part of the necropolis since ancient times.
This book does not provide much of a historical context. There are few references to the life stories of the pharaohs or events in the country at different periods. Time periods are described exclusively in terms of dynasties, rather than years BCE. The assumption is likely that readers will be aware of those matters already.
I recommend this book as a resource for those with a keen interest in the Valley of the Kings and its tombs, but perhaps not for the casual reader seeking something about the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
April 21, 2024
With a plethora of chapters, each dedicated to a fairly specialized subject, this book fills in a lot of details about subjects that aren't likely to be covered in other books about the Valley of the Kings. Just as a sample, there are chapters on the valley's hydrology (important because of the flash floods that deposit debris and damage tombs), tomb workmen and the tools they used, tomb robbery and the security measures used in pharaonic times, usurpation and reuse of tombs, intrusive burials, mortuary temples, funerary ritual, tourism, and about half a dozen chapters on various aspects of the modern study and conservation of the valley, including very recent developments. There's also a strange chapter about the valley's significance to modern Egyptians that mostly serves as a protest against the treatment of the villagers of Qurna. Modern Egyptians' relationship to their country's ancient monuments is a neglected subject, but I wish this chapter had actually said something about the valley per se.
While there's plenty of coverage of more usual topics, such as tomb architecture, symbolism, decoration, and burial goods, the individual tombs don't receive a great deal of attention. The book is also rather short on illustrations, considering the highly visual nature of the subject matter, and only a few tomb plans are provided.
The natural point of comparison for this book is The Complete Valley of the Kings, which lacks the coverage of less obvious topics and suffers from awkward organization and design (as well as some of Nicholas Reeves' dubious suppositions). But it gives a good impression of what each major tomb is like, including plans or perspective views of each, and a vivid account of the key moments in the valley's history. The two books thus complement each other pretty well.
While there's plenty of coverage of more usual topics, such as tomb architecture, symbolism, decoration, and burial goods, the individual tombs don't receive a great deal of attention. The book is also rather short on illustrations, considering the highly visual nature of the subject matter, and only a few tomb plans are provided.
The natural point of comparison for this book is The Complete Valley of the Kings, which lacks the coverage of less obvious topics and suffers from awkward organization and design (as well as some of Nicholas Reeves' dubious suppositions). But it gives a good impression of what each major tomb is like, including plans or perspective views of each, and a vivid account of the key moments in the valley's history. The two books thus complement each other pretty well.
August 12, 2023
Very comprehensive book about The Valley of the Kings. Together with the Complete Valley of the kings it provides all you need to know about this marvelous place.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews