Located in the Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of Luxor, Horemheb's tomb bears the reference KV 57. It houses the burial of the last pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, a former general turned king, and marks a key stage in the evolution of royal funerary decoration during the New Kingdom.

Why visit Horemheb's tomb

KV 57 stands out for the quality of its polychrome bas-reliefs and its role as a stylistic transition: here traditional painted scenes coexist with carved reliefs, a technique that would become the standard for subsequent royal tombs. The tomb is among the accessible burials with the combined Valley of the Kings ticket and remains less crowded than those of Tutankhamun or Ramses VI, allowing for a more peaceful visit.

• Colored reliefs of the shaft illustrating offerings to the gods
• First successful use of the Book of Gates in a royal tomb
• Carved granite sarcophagus preserved in the burial chamber
• Descending route arranged with carved stairs and corridors

History of Horemheb and his tomb

Horemheb reigns between 1343 and 1315 BCE. He is not of royal birth: as a young man, he serves King Amenhotep III as a scribe of recruits. His rise leads him to head the work of quartzite quarry exploitation, then to the supreme command of the army under Akhenaten. Under Tutankhamun and then Ay, he holds the position of great steward of the kingdom.

At Ay's death, backed by the military, he organizes a coup d'état and accedes to the throne. Becoming pharaoh, he marries Mutnodjmet, sister of Nefertiti. During his 28-year reign, he endeavors to stabilize the kingdom, combat corruption, restore the cult of Amun, and erase traces of Akhenaten's rule.

Horemheb had built his first tomb at Saqqara when he was merely a general. Once pharaoh, he had a new burial site carved in the Valley of the Kings, in accordance with royal customs. The tomb was not rediscovered until 1908 by English Egyptologist Edward Ayrton, who assigned it the reference KV 57.

What you see on site

The tomb extends for approximately 128 meters in descent, carved into limestone. The entrance opens onto a narrow staircase, followed by two carved corridors and two successive series of steps that mark the descent.

The shaft and its reliefs

Midway through, on the right side of a gallery, a shaft has been arranged. Its walls bear colored bas-reliefs illustrating Horemheb presenting his offerings to the gods. The inscriptions evoke his arrival in the afterlife and the welcome of the Egyptian pantheon.

The antechamber

A more intimate welcome scene unfolds in the antechamber, located slightly lower. Hathor and Anubis hold pride of place there, turned toward the sovereign.

The burial chamber and sarcophagus

At the end of the descent, the burial chamber is adorned with hieroglyphics from the Book of Gates. This funerary text describes the king's journey through the invisible world and serves as his guide after death. At the center, the pharaoh's granite sarcophagus is engraved with the four sons of Horus and protective divinities spreading their wings to preserve the royal remains.

Practical information

• Access: with the Valley of the Kings entrance ticket (one ticket allows you to visit three tombs among those open on rotation). KV 57 is among the tombs requiring a supplementary fee depending on the period.
• Duration of visit: allow 20 to 30 minutes for the tomb alone, 2 to 3 hours for the entire Valley of the Kings.
• Hours: daytime opening with reduced hours in winter. Check before departure.
• Photography: subject to an additional paid permit at the site entrance.
• Comfort: bring water, hat and closed-toe shoes; the air is hot and confined in the corridors.

How to get there

The Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank of Luxor. From the city, allow 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or car after crossing the Nile. Most visitors travel there as part of an organized excursion that also includes the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.

Upon arrival, vehicles park at the reception parking area. An electric shuttle connects the ticket office to the tombs; you can also walk the route. Signs indicate the location of each burial: look for the designation KV 57.

Nearby

• Valley of the Kings and Queens: the entire site and other accessible royal tombs.
• Luxor: Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank.
• Temple of Kom Ombo: classic stop on the way up the Nile toward Aswan.
• Temples of Aswan: natural extension of a Upper-Égypte itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Include KV 57 in your journey

Horemheb's tomb fits naturally into a day devoted to Luxor's west bank, then into a descent of the Nile toward Aswan. To build a complete Upper-Égypte itinerary, consult our trips to Égypte designed with our local agencies.