Ministry of Antiquities offer a yearly pass to all sites and museums

Starting from September, Ministry of Antiquities will offer a yearly pass to all sites and museums in Egypt (multiple visits) except (Queen Nefertari tomb and Seti I tomb) for 3400 Egyptian pounds to foreigners and Arab nationalities residents in Egypt and for 2900 pounds to foreigners who are working for foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Egypt. 

The same pass including Nefertari and Seti I tomb is for 4400 Egyptian pounds to foreigners and Arab nationalities residents in Egypt. The same pass for 3900 pounds to foreigners who are working for foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Egypt.

As for Luxor, there will be "Luxor Pass" available from beginning of November for tourists and it will be in two type.

One includes all open to public sites and museums except Seti I and Nefertari tombs for 1000 Egyptian pounds and 500 pounds for students.

The second includes all sites open to public including Seti I and Nefertari tombs for 2400 Egyptian pounds and 1200 pounds for students.

Luxor Pass will be for multiple visits and for duration of 5 days. 

#Egypt #Luxor #Egyptology #Antiquities #ThisIsEgypt #Karnak #Valleyofthekings #KingTut #Pyramids  

Nefertari and Seti I tombs to open for public

For many years after specialised restoration and conservation projects in two of the most beautifully decorated tombs of ancient Egypt, Tomb of Seti I (KV17) in the valley of the Kings and tomb of Nefertari (QV66) in the valley of the Queens, were closed for public with exception for private visits for nearly 20 thousand Egyptian pounds (approx. 2000USD) for up to 10 persons.

The ministry of antiquities decided to open the two tombs of the father and wife of Ramses II to public for 1000 Egyptian pounds per person.

The decision is expected to be affective from 1st week of November 2016 as the tourism season usually starts.

#Egypt #Luxor #VoK #Nefertari #SetiFirst #Egyptology #ThisIsEgypt #VisitEgypt 

Exclusive: latest news from valley of the kings with photos from King Tut's tomb

The radar scan started at King Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) by a team of Egyptian and American specialists including Dr. Khalid El-Anany (minister of antiquities), Dr. Mamdouh El-Damaty (former minister of antiquities), Dr. Yasser El-Shaib, Dr. Abbas Mohamed (Geophysics specialist) alongside specialists from National Geographic society. 

This radar scan this time using GSSI radar of model SIR4000 with digital antennas of 400 and 900Mhz.

More about the radar being used from the manufacturer's web site: 

http://www.geophysical.com/sir4000.htm

The scan started by scanning the wall of the annex room to take a reading can be compared of a wall known what's behind it. 

Then the scan of the northern wall started from left to right (starting from end of west wall going towards the treasury room end of the northern wall) 

The west wall to go yet. 

#ThisisEgypt #Egypt #Luxor #Egyptology #Archaeology 

Revealed: King Tut's tomb has more rooms to explore

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty has announced the results of the Geo Radar which was used in the tomb of Tutankhamon (KV62) You can watch the video below of the minister's announcement at the conference.

What's the story behind the scenes?

The crucial 48 hours in the search for Nefertiti. with behind the scenes footage in Luxor Times. Stay tuned!

#Egypt #Luxor #Egyptology #Archaeology #Nefertiti #KV62 #KingTut #ReevesNefertiti

Promising results of the infrared thermography of Tutankhamun's tomb walls


The Ministry of Antiquities, Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University and Heritage, innovation and preservation (HIP) Institute - Paris joint scientific mission started the first experiment using infrared thermography to detect the temperature of the Tutankhamun walls, the experiment lasted for 24 hours stated Dr. Eldamaty, Minster of Antiquities.

The preliminary analysis, added Eldamaty, indicates the presence of an area different in its temperature than the other parts of the northern wall. In order to certify the results, Eldamaty said, a number of experiments will be carried out  to determine more accurately the area marking the difference in temperature. A study of the acquired results will be analyzed as well.

Eldamaty further added that a longer time is needed (one week or more) using the thermography technique in order to confirm the results.

Possibility of using other methods is being studied in the mean time to help identify the area different in temperature.

#egypt #Luxor #KingTut #Egyptology #Archaeology 

Two tombs reopened in the Valley of the Kings

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty, minister of antiquities, in the valley of the kings to reopen the tombs of Hormoheb (KV57) and Thutmosis III (KV34).

The two tombs will be open for public as a part of the rotation system working in the valley to open tombs after restoration and close others for needed restoration.

The tombs which will be closed are Ramses III (KV 11) and Ramses IX (KV6)

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #Luxor

Exclusive Video: Minister of Antiquities talks about the latest news on the search behind the walls of King Tut's tomb

On Wednesday evening Luxor celebrated the 93^rd anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamon’s tomb which was held at Hatshepsut temple at Deir El Bahari.

 

At the event, the editor of Luxor Times was talking with the Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty. Most of the conversation was regular friendly chat “off the record”.

Then the minister was asked to answer one question on video for Luxor Times readers without prior notice of what the question would be.

You can watch the short video below.

Bottom line is:  The Infrared Thermo graphic scanning which will take place on Thursday and Friday is a primary step on the way to examine very carefully what could be behind the walls of KV62 (tomb of the Golden King) according to Dr. Nicholas Reeves’ hypothesis.

The confirmed results will be announced when the ministry officials see appropriate and announce the following step.

Videos of Dr. Nicholas Reeves and the Minister of Antiquities talking about the search for “the hidden chambers behind the walls of King Tut’s tomb” can be found on Luxor Times Youtube Channel HERE

Follow Luxor Times for the latest news of Egyptian history.

#Egypt #Luxor #Nefertiti #Egyptology #Archaeology  #Valleyof theKings

    

Permission granted for Reeves to use radars in King Tut's tomb in his search for Nefertiti

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty, minister of antiquities, told Luxor Times that the permanent committee approved in its meeting yesterday the proposal from Dr. Nicholas Reeves to use radars in King Tutankhamon tomb (KV62) in the valley of the kings in order to determine if there is any hidden rooms behind the northern and western wall of the golden king's tomb. 

The minister emphasised that this step was taken after making sure that the radars and equipment that will be used will not affect the tomb, its walls or painted scenes in anyway.

The elementary work will start as soon as all permissions granted. 

Dr. El Damaty also said "This could be a big step in the discovery of the century if Dr. Reeves studies and theory is proven to be correct." 

#Egypt #Luxor #Antiquities #KingTut #Nefertiti #Discovery #AncientEgypt 

Rediscovering King Tut’s tomb in search for the Lady

Dr. Nicholas Reeves at KV57 (tomb of Horemheb) in the Valley of the Kings, speaking about his theory. This video was recorded on the second day of his visit to Luxor accompanied by Dr. Mamdouh El Danaty to examine evidences in the tomb of the boy King and other tombs of the same era in their pursuit to reveal if there is more behind the walls of the tomb which was discovered in 1922 by British explorer Howard Carter.

 

For more exclusive footage and detailed account of what happened in Luxor, watch this space ... Only with Luxor Times 

https://youtu.be/g42k32J0ico

 

#Egypt #KingTut #Nefertiti #Luxor #ValleyoftheKings #Egyptology #Archaeology #FactumArte #AncientEgypt

Breaking New: Latest update on Nefertiti's hidden burial in King Tut's tomb

Minister of Antiquities to determine if Nefertiti is buried in King Tut's tomb in September.

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty, Minister of Antiquities, said that he contacted Dr Nicholas Reeves regarding Dr. Reeves' hypothesis about the burial of Nefertiti behind secret doors in King Tut's tomb.

Th minister said that during the call he agreed with Reeves to come to Egypt in the second half of September to present all details of his theory in a debate with Egyptologists working for the ministry of antiquities.

Based on the outcome of the debate, then will head to Luxor in an attempt to prove the clues Reeves based his theory on and announce the results in an international press conference.

 

El Damaty emphases that the ministry of antiquities can not make any statements regarding archaeological information or potential discoveries without going through the scientific studies and experiments then make the announcement in order not to cause confusion in the Egyptology field. 

#Egypt #Luxor #Nefertiti #Tut #ReevesNefertiti #Egyptology #Archaeology

Minister of Antiquities responds to Reeves announcement on Nefertiti's burial

First official response to Reeves announcement on Nefertiti's tomb

It has been nearly two weeks since Dr. Nicholas Reeves made an announcement regarding King Tut Ankh Amon's tomb. Today, the Minister of Antiquities has finally spoken on the matter. Dr. Reeves believes the tomb has hidden rooms that may contain the burial of Queen Nefertiti, something many media outlets are already dubbing a discovery.  

Upon returning from a trip to Japan, Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty, Minister of Antiquities,said he plans to approach Dr. Reeves to find out what scientific clues Reeves based his announcement on. The Minister went on to say that the Egyptian government plans to conduct several studies to determine if Dr. Reeves' hypothesis is correct.

 #Egypt #Luxor #Nefertiti #Tut #ReevesNefertiti #Egyptology #Archaeology

Exclusive: new excavations in valley of the Kings

Exclusive: new excavations in valley of the Kings by an Egyptian mission 

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty told Luxor Times today that an Egyptian mission will start excavation in the valley of the Kings on the 1st of August.

This will be the second time in history for an Egyptian mission to excavated in the Pharaohs burial place for over 500 years.

The first mission was led by Dr. Zahi Hawass.

The new mission will be under direct supervision of the minister of Antiquities and led by Dr. Mostafa Waziry with field director Salah El Masekh and will excavated in the areas to the north and south of Ramses IV tomb (KV2) which was last excavated in 1902.

#Egypt #Luxor #Egyptology #Archaeology #AncientEgypt 

For the first time in 3500 years, Royal tombs are open at night

Minister of Antiquities, Dr Mamdouh El Damaty opened the Valley of the Kings for the first time in history at night for visitors.
 

The great Pharaohs ‘ burials were sure visited at night in the past 35 centuries but mainly in ancient time by tomb robbers, this time the visit will be possible for public till 9pm.

The tombs which are equipped by the new lighting system provided by “DEFEX”, a specialised company, through a Spanish loan of 6 million Euros, are KV2 (tomb of Ramses IV), KV9 (tomb of Ramses V and Ramses VI) and KV17 (tomb of Seti I) beside the tombs will be open at night too also include tombs of Ramses III, Ramses IV and TutAnkhAmon tomb too.

 Photo was taking during the new lighting system was being tested (August 2013)

The last person who had enjoyed this magical atmosphere at night in the Valley of the Kings could be Sgt. Richard Adamson, as he claimed that he was guarding KV62, the tomb of King Tutankhamon since the discovery in 1922 and for several years afterwards playing opera records of an old gramophone at night but this is another story.

Now, visitors to Luxor have an amazing chance to enjoy those masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art at night even during the summer, no more hot days if you can visit at night.

The sites which will be open till 9pm in Luxor include Luxor Temple, Ramesseum temple and Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut temple. Later Habu temple and Seti I temple will be added to the list soon when the new lighting system is completely installed and tested.

#Egypt #Luxor #AncientEgypt #Egyptology #Antiquities #Archaeology

Happening Now: Minister of Antiquities "Valley of the Kings will beopen at night in July"

25th of July will be the date of the opening of the night visits of Valley of the Kings, The Ramesseum and Hatshepsut temple till 11pm.

Also Luxor temple visiting hours will be extended in summer from 1st of July till 11pm.

Luxor Museum visiting hours will be extended to the previous times before 2011.

#Luxor #Egypt #Antiquities #Egyptology 

Tomb of the royal children in the Kings' Valley identified

 Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister of Antiquities, announced today the new discovery by the mission of University of Basel in cooperation with the ministry of antiquities.

During the current field season of the University of Basel Kings' Valley Project, a subterranean tomb with several large chambers (KV 40) was identified as the burial place of members of the families of the pharaohs Thutmosis IV and Amenhotep III (ca. 1400-1350 BC).

 

KV 40 during excavation

The analysis of hieratic inscriptions on storage jars revealed the identity of over thirty individuals, among which eight hitherto unknown royal daughters, four princes and several foreign ladies. One princess is called Taemwadjes, another one Neferunebu.

Fragments of jars with hieratic inscriptions

With this discovery, the University of Basel Kings' Valley Project fills an important gap in Egyptological research, insofar as the individuals buried in the non-royal tombs of this necropolis remained largely anonymous up to now.

Tomb KV 40 contained the mummified remains of at least 50 people – including carefully mummified new-borns and infants – as well as countless fragments of their funerary equipment. All remains were plundered several times and heavily affected by a fire.
The fragments of various wooden and cartonnage coffins indicate furthermore that the tomb was used a second time as a burial ground: long after the abandonment of the Valley as royal necropolis, members of priestly families of the 9th century BC were interred here.

Humain remains in KV 40, Room D

Ali Al Asfr, Head of Ancient Egypt Antiquities department, said that anthropological analyses as well as further examination of the fragmentary burial goods will in future deliver important insight into the composition of the pharaonic court of the 18th dynasty as well as the conditions of life and the burial customs of its members.

University of Basel Kings' Valley Project is directed by Prof. Dr. Susanne Bickel and Field-Director lic. phil. Elina Paulin-Grothe.

The project web site can be accessed from HERE

All images above are courtesy of MSA and University of Basel Kings' Valley Project