Al-Qurn

El- Qurn seen from the valley of the kings of

El- Qurn, Al - Qurn (English), el- grain, el- Qorn (Arabic القرن, DMG al - Qurn ), El- Qurn or " horn " is the current name of 420 meters above sea level, the highest point in the Theban mountains. Its old name was Ta Dehent, " the summit ". This survey is located on the west bank of the Nile, across from Thebes, now Luxor.

Importance

From the Valley of the Kings looks el- Qurn like a big pyramid, which is why some Egyptologists make a connection between the shape of the mountain and the choice of the Valley of the Kings as the burial place of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom from Thutmose I.. For example, Kent R. Weeks: " The highest elevation is el- Qurn, the Horn, the southern end of the valley ( Valley of Kings ) ... Its pyramid shape like the Egyptians reminiscent of the symbol of the sun god Re and persuaded in this valley the to create cemetery the ruler. "

Speak in particular four evidence for this interpretation. In particular, the distinctive pyramidal shape of the mountain, the burial sites of the kings on the north side as the Pyramids, the south as at the Pyramids burial places of the queens and the use of similar symbolic landmarks within the same ( 18 ) Dynasty. So, King (Pharaoh) Akhenaten with their necropolis create his new capital Akhetaten on a rock formation in Middle Egypt, which had a resemblance to the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic sign for " horizon " ( Akhet ) and in the times to determined the solar disc as a symbol of God's Aton was seen.

The summit of the pyramid nature el- Qurn dominates the valley of the kings, which lies 140 meters above sea level to almost 300 meters. The area of the mountain was connected with the cult of the goddess Hathor, and also with the serpent deity Meretseger. Near the highest point recalls a plate-shaped rock formation to the spread pronotum a cobra.

Summit ways

The summit can be reached on foot either from the Valley of the Kings, or from the vicinity of Deir el -Medina. The climb takes about one to one and a half hours and about the same time on the way back. Reminiscent of a cobra plate-shaped rock formation located on the Deir el -Medina route.