Haunted Places: Valley of the Kings

January 23, 2017

Hello Everyone,

Because the last haunted place was somewhere other than the United States or Europe I decided to keep it out of those two places again. At least for now. So we are going to discuss the Valley of the Kings today.

What I like about this haunted location is that often times people forget that it is in fact a form of a cemetery but more so a different type of burial ground. Still, it is a place where those who were deceased were laid to rest.

Often times we do not view these locations that have a high historical significance or and archaeological significance to be a form of graveyard. When in fact that is exactly what they are. We just forget that sometimes with the hype of the new discoveries and the claims to fame from those that discover it.

Valley of the Kings:

The thing I find most interesting about the Valley of the Kings is that it was used as a burial place for almost 500 years. This time frame was between the 16th to 11th Century B.C. That’s a lot of time to bury people and can make the total amount rise drastically. Although since it is an area of archaeological significance it is hard to say for sure how many were/are buried there.

The Valley of the Kings is located just west of the Nile River and actually consists of two valleys. They are designated as East and West. This is significant because the West Valley is where most the royalty is buried.

Burials:

Most of the grave sites are recognized as numbers that reference them for allocation purposes. Menacing they have designators that are more like serial numbers than names on them like many of those in other locations would with a name on a tombstone or crypt.

Many of the tombs carry similar traits to all other burial sites around the world, however, and at one time I am sure they has different designators as to who was buried where.

Regardless, the tombs have been there for a very long time. Although many of them have been robbed over the years they still carry historical significance and a place of remembrance and respect for the deceased.

What some now as (KV62) others in more common talk now as Tutankhamen’s tomb. This is where the modern day association with curses and tales of the mummies come from. In 1922 the tomb was discovered and opened. Many of those present died from dangerous bacteria and gases released from the tombs being closed up for so many years. Although many believe it is the Curse of the Pharaohs.

The Hauntings and Curses:

The Curse of the Pharaohs is something of its own entirety. This is a curse that surrounds all the tombs of mummies and particularly the pharaohs. Contrary to belief there is only a few possible translations in tombs of a curse. The burial grounds at Saqqara has one but most likely to the Ka priests. The tomb of Ankhtifi contains more of a warning than a curse.

But many of us go right to “King Tut’s” tomb opening when we think of it. Or perhaps the earlier black and white movies of the last century.

The haunting occur everywhere in the general region. I can only imagine what a cool desert night feels like while walking through the valley after a hot day. The moonlight reflecting off the sandy and rocky terrain. The silent noises of the human existence far off in the distance. To think at one time this was a place that was even more remote.

One tales is a very general tale but often times these ones seem to hold the most credibility because many people have seen something similar. Or perhaps because so many people know the story that it’s easy to repeat and change up a bit to make it seem original. This is haunting of a ghost chariot. The chariot goes speeding past the living in the dead of night, usually right at midnight, with a short Egyptian King holding the reins that control black horses. Or at the least it is a short person wearing the suit of an Egyptian King.

Another haunt that carries some credibility in the region is that of a pharaoh named Akhenaten. This pharaoh abolished the older religions when he was reigning the land. After his death the religions were restored and the priests cursed him. Or so it’s said. His curse was to wander the desert for all eternity for his misdeeds in trying to destroy the old religions and angering the gods.

Both of these tales can probably cover the noises that are most commonly heard at night in the Valley of the Kings. Most people here horses or the noises of horse drawn carriages/chariots in the distance. Some even just hear footsteps walking close to them but never see anything, even in the barren landscape. You would surely see someone if you could hear them that close to you.

There are of course the cries or mourning sounds of someone in despair that are heard. Many discredit this to the wind working its way through the valley and openings in the crypts of other natural caves. The night watchmen that watch over the valley to this day would probably be able to give you a more in depth thought on that.

Still, it feel nice and eerie to me.

Thanks for Reading,

Joshua Crane Dowidat

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