Valley of the Queens

The Valley of the Queens (Arabic: وادي الملكات Wādī al Malekāt) is a place in Egypt where wives of Pharaohs were buried in ancient times. In ancient times, it was known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning –"the place of beauty".

General view of the Valley of the Queens

Scene from the tomb of Nefertari

The reason for choosing the Valley of the Queens as a burial site is not known. The place is near the worker's village in Deir el-Medina and the Valley of the Kings. Another consideration may be the existence of a sacred grotto dedicated to Hathor at the entrance of the Valley. This grotto may be associated with rejuvenation for the dead.^[1]

The main wadi contains 91 tombs and nearby valleys add another 19 tombs.