Out of the temple, we had an adventurous plan: we wanted to cross the desert over the hills and reach the Valley of the Kings to see how Tuthmosis III had “done up” his tomb.  But the area was a heavily guarded zone due to some earlier terrorist attack, about 10 years back, and she discouraged us to walk and suggested that instead we hire a donkey for each to carry us to the other side. Quite instantly we changed our mind.  We would rather take the car!

从神庙出来时，我们产生了一个冒险计划：徒步翻越沙山抵达帝王谷，去看看图特摩斯三世的陵墓是如何修缮的。但那是个重兵把守的地区，是大约十年前的一次恐怖事件带来的结果。导游不主张我们步行，她建议每人租一头毛驴骑过去。我们立刻改了主意，情愿乘车去！

Hidden high in the hills between enormous lime stone cliffs in the Valley of Kings is the tomb of Tuthmosis III, and it could be reached by a steep metal and wooden staircase.

在高高的山丘之间，周遭皆是石灰岩的帝王谷中，隐藏着图特摩斯三世的陵园。沿着一段金属和木料制作的陡峭台阶向上攀登，即可到达。

Tuthmosis III happened to be the first king to build his tomb in this valley and, to keep it an utmost secret, he chose the most inaccessible spot and designed it with a series of narrow, low claustrophobic passages going up and down to reach the burial chamber that would protect the sarcophagus of the king.  Even then, he could not save himself from getting robbed.

图特摩斯三世是第一位在帝王谷为自己建造陵墓的国王。为了达到隐秘的目的，他选择最不容易接近的地点，又设计了一系列狭窄、低矮并且幽闭恐怖的通道，忽上忽下，最后才能抵达其石棺所在的墓室，以此来保护自己。即便如此，他也还是没能逃避被盗墓的命运。

The chambers are nicely lit and equipped with ventilators and air pumps.  Still, we had to wear nose masks; for our breath contained salt and humidity that would affect the drawings.  The walls are adorned by magnificent drawings with a superb combination of colors, scenes of the night sky, offerings to the gods, daily chores during the afterlife, everything else, all explained by the means of hieroglyphics.  I had clicked a few photos, alas without a flash, but then one of the guards pointed out that photography inside the tomb was strictly prohibited.

墓室内照明很好，装备有通风机和气泵。但我们还是必须带上口罩，因为呼吸中带有盐分和水汽，是对壁画有害的。墙上绘有色彩丰富而又美丽的图样，其内容包括夜空的景色、供神的物品、阴间生活需要的日常用品，以及一切其他东西，都是用象形文字来体现的。 我摁了几张照片，可惜都没有闪光，可后来还是有一个警卫人员对我指出：墓室内严禁摄影。

Visiting a few more tombs in the valley, we then left the place to take a sneak peek at the Valley of the Queen.  A total of 75 tombs have been excavated here and only five are open to the public, including the most beautiful one for Queen Nefertari.  But it was closed for restoration and, alas once more, we could not visit her secret home for the afterlife.

又看了谷里另外几个陵墓之后，我们就离开此地去偷看了一眼皇后谷。这里总共发掘了75座陵墓，但只有5座是对外开放的，其中包括纳菲尔塔莉皇后的那座最漂亮的陵墓。可它目前正在维修，很遗憾的我们无缘见识这位皇后神秘的地下家园。 （全文完）

       ——英文资料摘录自《Shanghai Star》 March 15-21, 2007 

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