Discover Ancient Egypt's Splendor: Amenhotep III's Tomb Reopens After 20-Year Renovation

Egypt has reopened the magnificent tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III to visitors after an extensive 20-year renovation project in Luxor's Valley of the Kings.

The significant reopening occurred on Saturday as Egypt prepares for the grand inauguration of the Cairo-based Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled for November 1.

Located on the western side of the famed Valley of the Kings, the enormous tomb of Amenhotep III, who governed ancient Egypt from 1390 BC to 1350 BC, was originally discovered in 1799. Unfortunately, many of its treasures, including the pharaoh's sarcophagus, were looted following its discovery.

The restoration project, led by Japanese experts over three distinct phases, included meticulous renovation of the wall paintings depicting the pharaoh and his wife, according to Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

"It's a very fascinating tomb," Ismail explained to The Associated Press, noting that visitors can see the frame of the stolen sarcophagus with its lid still positioned where it would have been originally placed.

The tomb's entrance consists of an impressive 36-meter (118-foot) long, 14-meter (45-foot) deep sloping passageway beneath the Valley of the Kings. The structure features a main burial chamber dedicated to the king, along with two additional chambers for his wives, Queens Tiye and Sitamun.

Unlike many other tombs in the valley, this one is not completely decorated. The preserved paintings show Amenhotep III alongside various ancient Egyptian deities, while the burial chamber contains inscriptions from the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells designed to guide the deceased through the ancient Egyptian underworld.

According to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, ancient priests relocated Amenhotep III's mummy to his grandfather Amenhotep II's tomb, also situated in the Valley of the Kings. The severely damaged mummy is now displayed at the museum alongside 16 other royal mummies from ancient Egypt.

Amenhotep III was one of the most distinguished pharaohs of ancient Egypt's 18th Dynasty, which ruled between 1550 BC and 1292 BC. Often referred to as Amenhotep the Great, he became pharaoh as a teenager and ruled for approximately 38 years.

The tomb's reopening comes just weeks before the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids, scheduled for November 1.

These reopenings are part of Egypt's strategic efforts to attract more international tourists and revitalize its tourism sector, a crucial source of foreign currency. The country's tourism industry, heavily dependent on its rich pharaonic heritage, has struggled to recover following the political upheaval and violence that emerged after the 2011 uprising.