Attraction Details
Overview
Ramesses VI
The Tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9) in the Valley of the Kings is widely considered the most elaborately decorated tomb in Egypt in terms of the density and variety of its astronomical and religious texts. Descending 83 meters into the Theban limestone on a single axis, the tomb passes through nine corridors and chambers whose walls and ceilings are covered floor-to-ceiling with painted and carved texts from the Book of the Dead, the Book of Gates, the Book of Caverns, the Book of the Earth, and the Amduat — a comprehensive theological library carved in stone designed to guide and protect the king through the twelve hours of the night.
The most celebrated feature of KV9 is its ceiling. The burial chamber ceiling carries two mirrored astronomical compositions — one on each side — depicting the sky goddess Nut arching across the heavens, swallowing the sun at dusk on one side and giving birth to it at dawn on the other. Between them, the full course of the sun through the night sky is depicted in the Astronomical Ceiling, one of the most complete ancient Egyptian astronomical programs in any tomb. The colors — deep blue, gold, red, and white — remain vivid after more than 3,100 years.
KV9 began as the tomb of Ramesses V (20th Dynasty, c. 1145 BCE) and was expanded and usurped by his successor Ramesses VI (c. 1143–1136 BCE), whose mummy was ultimately found in the cache of royal mummies at Deir el-Bahari. The tomb’s entrance was buried under debris during antiquity, which led to the construction of workers’ huts directly above it — and ironically protected Tutankhamun’s nearby tomb (KV62) from discovery for over 3,000 years.
History & Significance
The tomb was begun for Ramesses V of the 20th Dynasty around 1145 BCE and was taken over by his uncle and successor Ramesses VI, who deepened and expanded it significantly. The decoration program covers texts from virtually every major funerary composition of the New Kingdom, making KV9 an encyclopedic summary of the entire royal underworld literature accumulated over the preceding 300 years of New Kingdom tomb-making.
In antiquity, the tomb was open and widely visited by Greeks and Romans, who left over 1,000 graffiti inscriptions on the walls — far more than any other Valley of the Kings tomb. Ancient visitors called it the ‘Tomb of Memnon’ and described its painted chambers in admiring terms. Their graffiti, though etched into the decoration, paradoxically confirm that the tomb was accessible and celebrated for its painted program throughout the Classical era.
The huts of workers built above the tomb’s entrance blocked access in later periods and concealed the tomb’s location. When Howard Carter was excavating in the 1920s, he initially avoided disturbing the huts, but when he finally did so in 1922 he discovered the entrance to Tutankhamun’s intact tomb (KV62) directly beneath them — a discovery made possible by KV9’s ancient fame having focused later construction above it.
What to See
Astronomical Burial Chamber Ceiling
The double composition of the sky goddess Nut — swallowing the sun at dusk on one side, giving birth to it at dawn on the other — painted in deep blue and gold across the full vault ceiling.
Book of Gates Corridor
The second and third corridors carry illustrated scenes from the Book of Gates, showing the sun god's journey through the 12 hours of night with vivid registers of gods and serpents.
Book of Caverns
Unusual oval-shaped cavern vignettes from the Book of Caverns fill the fourth corridor walls — a less common funerary text rarely seen in such complete form.
Scale and Color
The sheer density of painted decoration — every surface covered in hieroglyphic text and illustration — is unlike any other accessible tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
Photo Gallery
Visitor Information
Daily 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
⛔ Closed: NeverModest dress required
Photography restricted
Partially accessible
💡 Visitor Tips
Location & Map
🚕 How to Get There
Located in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's west bank, approximately 8 km from the Nile ferry landing; accessible by taxi to the valley entrance, then by tourist tram (LE 4) or walking to the tomb cluster.
