Turning back on our tracks from the tomb of Amen(hir)khopshef, and
taking the right-hand track at the fork of the paths, we pass two unnamed
tombs, 54 and 53, and on our right hand we see the tomb No. 52, the tomb of
Queen Titi, or Teyet or Tyti .
This tomb lies a little farther on that of Nefertari, and is one which
deserves to be seen, as the colour in its scenes has been wonderfully well
preserved .
We now pass out of the first hall and descend another staircase . This
is decorated with figures which are admirably disposed so as to make the best
of the space available .
Arriving at the valley, we take the path to the right, which leads to
the tomb of Nefertari, the favourite queen of Ramses II, familiar to everybody from
the frequent repetition of her graceful figure on the colossi of the great
king,
The Valley of the Tombs of the Queens is locally known as Biban el Harim, as that of the Tombs of
the Kings is called Biban el Muluk . It is situated at the
south end of the Theban Necropolis,
Thirty yards or so north of the temple, the Sacred Lake lies in a corner
of the enclosure . It was constructed of masonry, and was about 60 feet square,
with two flights of steps, one at each of its southern angles .
We now pass out towards the High Gate on our way to the 18th
Dynasty temple, and notice on our way the remains of a small gateway of
Nectanebis I leading into its sacred enclosure .
South of the first court are the remains of the palace which Ramses
built for himself, with what seems to us curious callousness, in the closest
connexion with his own mortuary temple .