The Valley of the Kings is famous throughout the world as the burial place of the great New Kingdom pharaohs. It was here, in 1922, that Howard Carter stumbled upon the virtually intact tomb of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, igniting a worldwide Egyptomania that has lasted to this day. The royal tombs, tunneled deep into the Theban cliffs, represented both the gates to the Netherworld and the womb of the Great Goddess. Many of them contain outstanding wall paintings of the king with gods and goddesses, as well as papyri, mummies, decorated coffins and other artifacts. This is the first book to reproduce these murals in full, and to explore the meanings of the esoteric and arcane Netherworld Books that decorated the royal tombs. The images are accompanied by in-depth analyses of the most deeply held beliefs of the ancient kings and queens who lay there, beliefs that provided the impetus for the building, decoration and equipping of these magnificent tombs. Beautifully illustrated in full color, with thirty foldouts, this sumptuous volume will enable you to join the pharaohs of the New Kingdom on their journeys to immortality.

ISBN: 9780500513224