Egypt has reopened the grand tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the Valley of the Kings, more than 20 years after it was closed for extensive restoration.
Amenhotep III, who reigned from 1390 to 1350 BC, presided over one of ancient Egypt’s most prosperous and artistically rich eras.
His tomb, carved into the limestone cliffs on Luxor’s west bank of the Nile, is among the largest in the royal necropolis.
“The tomb of King Amenhotep III was first discovered in 1799 and rediscovered in 1915 by Howard Carter,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
“Sadly, it was found completely looted only the broken lid of the sarcophagus remains, shattered into more than 200 pieces.”
The decades-long restoration, led by a Japanese team in collaboration with UNESCO, focused on conserving intricate wall paintings depicting the pharaoh and his queen.
Experts describe the artwork as some of the finest examples from Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty.
The reopening comes just weeks ahead of the highly anticipated inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids part of broader efforts to revitalise Egypt’s tourism sector.
Tourism Minister Sherif Fathi said visitor numbers continue to grow steadily.
“We’re maintaining growth above 20 percent and expect this momentum to continue through the year,” he said, attributing the recovery to political stability and effective management.
After years of decline following the 2011 uprising and recent regional unrest, Egypt is banking on its rich pharaonic heritage to boost cultural tourism and foreign earnings.
