The Complete Valley of the Kings: Tombs and Treasures of Ancient Egypt's Royal Burial Site [Hardcover]

Nicholas Reeves (Author), Richard H. Wilkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002 | Series: Complete

This account of the Valley of the Kings brings together its art, archaelogy and history in one volume arranged thematically. Famous as the burial place of the great New Kingdom pharaohs - such as Tutankhamun, Ramesses the Great and Tuthmosis IV - this valley contains some 80 tombs which were dug at the climax of Egyptian power more than 3000 years ago. The account includes full descriptions of over 80 tombs, complete with factfiles, lists of contents and computer-generated perspective cutaway views. It describes the burials and mummies of famous pharaohs, from Tutankhamun and gives a blow-by-blow account of the rediscovery of the tombs, from Greek and Roman times to Howard Carter and the present day. It details the latest research by the international teams in the valley, including the discovery of the tomb for the sons of Ramesses the Great. The planning and ritual purpose of the tombs is also described, from the royal workforce to the scenes from the mysterious "afterlife" books adorning the tomb wall. A full reference section, including a guide to visiting the valley, is also given.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A richly illustrated, reasonably priced account of the burial sites of Egypt's greatest rulers."

About the Author

Nicholas Reeves has written numerous books on ancient Egypt, including The Complete Tutankhamun. Richard H. Wilkinson's books include Reading Egyptian Art. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500050805
• ISBN-13: 978-0500050804
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > History > Ancient > Africa
  • #97 in Books > History > Ancient > Egypt

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars complete in every sense of the word, June 16, 2000

By 

Mike Galer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Valley of the Kings: Tombs and Treasures of Ancient Egypt's Royal Burial Site (Hardcover)

I was engrossed for days when I first got this book. The attention to detail is staggering, 'complete' in every sense of the word. With excellent maps and background information the authors prepare the way gently with analysis and discussion of general methods of tomb building and the belief system behind it. What I found particularly useful was a history of the tomb diggers and archaeologists who discovered (and plundered) the tombs, going all the way up to Theodore M Davies and of course Howard Carter. Their methods, desires and successes underscore the rest of the book: the tombs themselves and help to put a human face on the ancient world of the Pharaohs.

In many ways these men were amateur violators, thieves no-less, but our modern interest stem from them and their legacy.

Vastly illustrated throughout, colour balanced with black and white photography and the simple, but enormously effective line drawings in 3D of the tomb layouts and designs. Comparison of style, form and development is instantly possible.

"Who's who in KV35" typically illustrates the book's grasp of controversial issues, supporting the wide range of modern scholarly thought, while attempting to be neutral.

Detail is a very much a part of this survey. Inscriptions and archaeological evidence recorded faithfully alongside "fact files"of the discoveries, right down to where the reports were published etc. This adds a flavour of complete authenticity which supports the book. Good index, further reading and sources. One small criticism: occasionally little too detailed for light reading and not always enough background on the Pharaohs' themselves, but this could be easily solved with reference to another suitable book.

Excellent, recommended.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully executed and quite worthy of its subject matter!, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Valley of the Kings: Tombs and Treasures of Ancient Egypt's Royal Burial Site (Hardcover)

Unlike the Chronicle of the Pharaohs, this compiled information is not lacking except for in those finer details that are hardly mentioned, anyway. As a great fan of the Valley of the Kings, I found this book worthy of its subject. All the tombs and pit tombs are mentioned, ground-plans shown when available. Many artifacts rarely seen are published here in wonderful plates, and many more artifacts are mentioned in the list of contents bestowed upon each tomb. A small portion of the royal mummies are shown in the back as a sort of family album, many others being shown throughout the book. I found most interesting the picture of the mummy found with the nurse of the great Hatchepsut and thought to possibly be Hatchepsut, herself. This is a great book to have share a shelf with the works of John Romer and other intimates of the Valley of the Kings. For those--like myself--who plan to join the rank of those intimates, this book is a must

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost completely perfect, February 27, 2002

By 

Katherine S. Keetch (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Valley of the Kings: Tombs and Treasures of Ancient Egypt's Royal Burial Site (Hardcover)

The Complete Valley of the Kings is a very well-researched, well-written, well-illustrated, and well-organized book. Everything from the topographic and the geologic maps of the valley through the religious and archeological history of the valley were interesting (and sometimes depressing, considering what some of those early adventurers and so-called scholars did to the place). The information on the dismantling of the Valley at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st Dynasty was especially interesting. Of course, the stars of the book were the tombs themselves. The architecture, decoration and history of each tomb is given as fully as possible. My only reservation in regards to this book lies in the authors having made up their minds on the identity of the controversial mummy in KV55 and airily dismissing as unimportant any evidence that contradicts their theory. Such inflexible partiality calls for a cautious approach to any other "definite" conclusions the authors draw. Otherwise, the book is inarguably informative and entertaining, except for the fact that the authors consistently and annoyingly use the Greek forms of the pharaoh's names (such as the Greek Sethos instead of Seti). Other than that, the book really is almost completely perfect.