Luxor, Egypt — The long-sealed tomb of King Amenhotep III in the Western Valley of the Kings was officially inaugurated today by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, marking the completion of one of the most extensive restoration projects ever undertaken in the Theban Necropolis. For the first time since its discovery more than two centuries ago, the tomb will now be accessible to visitors.

Amenhotep III, who ruled during the Eighteenth Dynasty between approximately 1390 and 1352 BC, presided over an era of immense prosperity and artistic achievement. His monuments still dominate Luxor today, from the Colossi of Memnon to major sections of Luxor and Karnak Temples. His tomb, designated KV22, reflects the grandeur of his reign. Its steep descending corridors lead to a vast burial chamber where golden stars fill a deep blue sky on the ceiling, and painted walls depict the king receiving life from the gods. Passages from the Book of the Amduat describe his journey through the night to rebirth.

Despite its importance, the tomb remained closed and largely unseen for generations. Since its discovery in 1799, it suffered greatly from neglect. Early explorers hacked away painted heads as souvenirs. Bats, salts, and humidity darkened the walls. Cracks spread through the chamber pillars. The granite sarcophagus lid lay shattered into hundreds of fragments. By the late twentieth century, the tomb was considered at risk of structural failure.

The turning point came when a Japanese mission from Waseda University began work at the site in 1989. Their documentation led to a partnership between Egypt, Japan, and UNESCO, launching a full conservation programme in 2001 under the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust. The project was carried out in three major phases over more than two decades.

During the first two phases, Japanese, Egyptian, and Italian conservators cleaned and stabilized the paintings in the entrance corridors and burial hall. Murals long obscured by soot and decay revealed their original colours. Cracked pillars were secured. The red granite sarcophagus lid, previously in pieces, was painstakingly reconstructed from more than 200 fragments.

The third and final phase, implemented between 2023 and 2024, focused on preventive conservation. Cracks in the pillars of the burial chamber were repaired, wall paintings were consolidated again where needed, bedrock surfaces were cleaned, biological deterioration was reassessed, and monitoring devices were installed to ensure long-term stability. The project also extended beyond technical work: nearly two hundred Egyptian conservators, inspectors, and students received training, while outreach workshops involved local children, youth, and women in heritage awareness.

Today, the tomb stands transformed. The ceiling glows once more with its constellation of golden stars. The scenes of Amenhotep III embraced by Hathor, Nut, Anubis, and Osiris are visible in vivid clarity. The reconstructed sarcophagus lid has been remounted as a centrepiece of the burial chamber.

At the inauguration, officials toured the restored chambers, describing the project as a model of international cooperation in cultural heritage. The event not only signalled the completion of conservation but also marked a historic change in access. After more than 3,400 years sealed in darkness and two centuries closed to all but a handful of specialists, the tomb of Amenhotep III will finally receive visitors.

It is a rare moment in modern archaeology: a royal tomb once in danger of disappearance has been rescued, restored, and returned to life.