Khaemhet is the second of the tombs. He was the scribe and inspector of granaries for Amenophis III. It is only reached through the forecourt of another tomb (which is not open to tourists).

The exquisite carvings in this tomb are breathtaking. The delicate carved faces and hair make the carvings and paintings in the Valley of the Kings look crude in comparison.

Userhat was a royal scribe and tutor for Amenophis II. The tomb is decorated in many colorful murals, colored quite pink-ish.

The village of the workers housed the masons, artists, and sculptors who worked on the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.

The little temple here never served the village of the workers — the current structure is Greco-Roman and the workers on the tombs of the pharaohs were long gone.

Above the village of Deir el-Medina is a hillside filled with small tombs for the artists, sculptors and laborers of the Valley of the Kings. Only a few of the tombs are open, and no photos are allowed.

Luxor Temple sits in the middle of Luxor, only a few blocks down from our hotel and an easy walk from the curved corniche and its restaurants and stalls. The temple is dedicated to the Theban triad — Amun-Min, Mut, and Khonsu.

The hypostyle hall has 32 papyrus columns, most of which remain intact, a veritable forest of stone

The original part of the temple was built by Amenhotep III and dedicated to Amun, who Amenhotep claimed was his father (all pharaohs were descended of gods, of course!)