The Valley Along the Nile Where Many Egyptian Pharaohs Were Buried
The place where many of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were buried is aptly named. In the English translation, the area is called the Valley of the Kings. Don't confuse it with Egypt's other famous site, the Pyramids of Giza, however. That site, near Cairo, is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.
1 The Valley's Location
The Valley of Kings, also called Thebes, is called Luxor in modern times.It's about 420 miles from the capital, Cairo. The Valley of Kings is on the west bank of the Nile River, and is thought to be home to at least 62 tombs of kings and other people of significance. Its location was likely a strategic one, since the valley -- or actually, two small valleys -- are surrounded by steep cliffs that made it easier to protect from attack.