Visitors can now descend 46 feet underground into the newly reopened tomb of Amenhotep III, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers. Closed to the public for the past two decades, the 3,400-year-old site has officially been reopened just ahead of the historic debut of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
A king who ruled Egypt
Amenhotep III, often called Amenhotep the Magnificent, ascended the throne as a teenager and ruled for nearly 38 years
Amenhotep III, often called Amenhotep the Magnificent, ascended the throne as a teenager and ruled for nearly 38 years, from around 1390 to 1350 BCE, during the height of the 18th dynasty. Early in his reign, he married Tiy, a commoner and a shrewd and able woman who became the chief queen and the mother of the reforming king Akhenaten.His reign left behind temples, palaces and statues that intrigue historians to this day. Among these monuments are the Colossi of Memnon near Luxor, a pair of large stone figures that once guarded his mortuary temple. It also includes a major temple at Soleb in Nubia and many buildings in Memphis.
Discovery of the tomb
The official reopening of the site took place on October 4, 2025, strategically timed just weeks ahead of the long-awaited debut of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids on November 1, 2025. French engineers Prosper Jollois and Édouard de Villiers du Terrage first located the tomb in 1799 during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. British archaeologist Howard Carter later conducted a full excavation in 1915. By then, however, looters had stripped the chamber bare centuries earlier.The restoration ran in three distinct phases over more than 20 years, with teams working from 2001 to 2004, 2010 to 2012, and 2023 to 2024. A collaboration of Egyptian, Japanese, and international teams led the effort. They focused on cleaning, conservation, and repairing the damaged wall paintings, which depict Amenhotep III alongside his royal consort, Queen Tiye. “Two hundred and sixty representatives over these 20 years — researchers specialised in conservation, technicians with particular skills. I think this is a special achievement,” said Nuria Sanz, UNESCO‘s regional director in Egypt.Even without its original treasures, the tomb still shows remarkable splendour. Vibrant, weathered paintings line the walls alongside sacred hieroglyphs drawn from the Book of the Dead. These texts were intended to guide the pharaoh safely into the afterlife. “You can still see the frame of the stolen sarcophagus box, with its lid preserved in the place where it once rested,” said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, during the launch.
Inside the tomb
The wall scenes show Amenhotep III standing among the gods, surrounded by ritual inscriptions invoking eternal life
A 36-meter (118-foot) passage slopes downward into a network of three connected chambers. One belonged to the king, while the other two belonged to his queens, Tiye and Sitamun. The wall scenes show Amenhotep III standing among the gods, surrounded by ritual inscriptions invoking eternal life. Unlike some other tombs in the valley, this one was never fully decorated.The pharaoh’s mummy no longer rests inside the complex. Ancient priests long ago moved it to the tomb of his grandfather, Amenhotep II, for protection. Today, it is displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo alongside 16 other royal mummies.
Improved tourism for Egypt
Egypt’s tourism ministry is counting on this addition to the Valley of the Kings, combined with the active first year of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, to continually draw international visitors.“We are continuing to grow at a rate of 20 per cent,” said Sherif Fathi, Egypt’s minister of tourism and antiquities, regarding the seasonal trajectory.
