Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The land of the dead
THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS, EGYPT, 1926
The people of ancient Egypt hoped that after death they would be granted a second life in
the
duat
(or land of the dead). For those who could afford them, elaborate rituals developed
around the mummification and burial of corpses. The pharaohs who ruled Egypt spared no
expense on the construction and decoration of tombs for themselves and their families, and
they were buried with many valuable objects to support their future existence in the duat.
In today's world, the ancient Egyptians enjoy a different kind of afterlife: their long-lasting
civilisation continues to fascinate many people, from young children to academic research-
ers.
Although Western society's preoccupation with ancient Egypt dates back centuries, the
sensational discovery of the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922 led to a renewed wave
