In the kingdom of Osiris

The people of ancient Egypt struggled to protect the bodies of their kings. After the pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms were plundered, most Egyptian pharaohs of dynasties 18 to 20 of the New Kingdom (who ruled around 1570 - 1070 BCE) were buried in tombs cut into the solid rock of the Valley of the Kings.

An image of a ram-headed bird representing part of the soul of the great sun god Re, in the burial chamber of Queen Twosret.

The Egyptian workers toiled in the heat of the barren valley to dig staircases, corridors and chambers deep into the rock. The walls were decorated with scenes of outstanding beauty that depicted the gods, perils and glory that awaited in the netherworld. Finally, the New Kingdom pharaohs were entombed along with precious objects needed to maintain their status in the divine afterlife.