One of the largest tombs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings reopened to visitors after more than 20 years of renovation¹.

The huge tomb of Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt between 1390 B.C. and 1350 B.C., is carved into the hillside on the west bank of the Nile River near the southern Egyptian city of Luxor. It was discovered in 1799 by two people, and its contents were looted, including the sarcophagus, Egyptian antiquities² authorities said.

It has been under a Japanese-led, three-phased restoration project for the past two decades, including renovating³ paintings of the pharaoh and his wife on the tomb walls, said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme⁴ Council of Antiquities.

The tomb starts with a 118-foot-long, 45-foot-deep, downward-sloping passageway beneath the Valley of the Kings. It includes a main burial chamber⁵ for the king, and two other chambers⁶ for his wives, Queens Tiye and Sitamun.