Atlas User Guide - Theban Mapping Project

Atlas of the Valley of the Kings Information

The Atlas provides three ways experience the Valley of the Kings and every tomb in it. Select tombs in the sites pull-down menu [1], or on the maps of the Valley [2]. Toggle between the Overview, Description or Maps & Plans modes [3] to examine each site according to the following activity types:

Use this mode to get an overview of each site in context to the Valley. The default map is of the East Valley of the Kings. Clicking on the tab or map in the upper left corner will take you to the West Valley [4]. Roll over the tombs to identify them [2], click to select them. If a tomb is selected, click on the inset in the upper left corner [4] to jump back out to the Valley view. The black panel displays an image from the site [5], the name of the site and its owner [6], and the cartouches of known tomb owners [7]. Roll the mouse over the cartouche for a translation. Clicking on the Start Movie button [8] will load and play an animated movie narrated by Kent Weeks. Printable transcripts for each tomb are accessible under the picture or movie [9].

Use this mode [10] to access the database records along with detailed plans or axonometric models for each site. When a tomb is selected, toggle between the Information, Images & Media, and Related Links tabs to read records, view images and link to related articles. While general site information and all images are available when a tomb is selected, more detailed information for each component is accessible by selecting tomb components. Choose the principal tomb components through their respective letter designation on the drawing [11], or select a component through the pull-down menu below [12]. Use the button to the right of the pull-down menu [13] to navigate through each component. Roll over the inset [14] to zoom out for greater context, click the inset to go back to the entire tomb view. Click the inset again to jump back out to the Valley view.

In the Information sub-mode [15], database records are displayed for what is displayed in the drawing view to the left. Words in brown link to glossary terms in a pop-up window.

In the Images & Media sub-mode [16], thumbnail images [17] are displayed of surfaces visible in the corresponding drawing view. Use the arrow buttons [18] to navigate between sets of thumbnails when more than nine are available. Roll over images to get captions [19] and to see the corresponding highlights on the drawings displaying the image position [20]; click the thumbnail to launch full-size images. Full-size images that feature Zoomify technology are indicated with a special double square icon in their lower right corner. Movies, QTVRs and other media are identified with a media icon.

The Related Links sub-mode [21] provides links to resources including PDF plans and sections, printable database records, bibliographies and related articles.

Use this mode [22] to view maps, plans, sections and elevations for each site. There are two sub-modes: Move and Measure, which are selected by the mode icons. Use the Move sub-mode [23] to drag the maps around in the window and view related notes, which are highlighted yellow [24]. Use the Measure sub-mode [25] to measure the distance between points on the map and the relative angle in degrees between the points. Toggle the measurement units between meters, feet and cubits [26]. Hold down the spacebar to toggle between these two modes. Select page number 1 in the lower right corner to restore the default view, or select other numbers to access other views when available [27]. Use the inset to jump back out to the Valley view [28].

The 3D Tomb is a narrated movie/walkthrough of KV 14 that can be accessed from anywhere in the Atlas. At different points throughout the animation, photographic images of the interior surfaces appear. Click on areas framed in yellow to open a pop-up window loads containing a Zoomify full-color image of the area highlighted on the grayscale. Select Resume Tour to continue playing the movie, or use the component letter buttons on the plan to jump directly to the desired tomb component. A printable transcript is accessible under the tour, as are playback controls to access any part of the movie.

The search feature in the Atlas offers a visual way to search, filter and find tombs according to features selected from various categories. It is accessible from anywhere in the Atlas. Close Search with the close button in the upper right corner to return to the last position in the Atlas or select a tomb and jump directly to it in the Description mode. Query results remain in the Search window, and are also indicated by brown tabs in the sites pull-down menu.

The Atlas of the Valley of the Kings is a robust tool that may challenge the performance of some computers. The following tips may help increase responsiveness, movie playback speeds, and animation smoothness:

While the Atlas is accessible for users with the Flash Player 5, using the latest version of the Flash player significantly improves playback speeds and the loading of tombs in the Description mode. To download Flash, please visit Macromedia Downloads to get the latest version.

Minimize the number of applications running and the number of browser windows open while the Atlas is active. If the computer is busy running another application or displaying the contents of a different website, this can undermine performance of the Atlas.

Macintosh users may benefit from allocating more memory to their browser:

Locate the browser application file on the hard disk.
Click once on the application icon to highlight it.
Choose "Get Info" from the "File" menu, and then choose "Memory" from the sub-menu.
Under "Memory Requirements" you will see three values: Suggested size, Minimum Size and Preferred Size. Change the Preferred size to at least 48MB.

Throughout the website many references are made to different architectural elements in tombs. Every surface in a tomb has a name used to locate images and database records. When referring to different walls of a chamber, your back is to the gate and:

The front wall is behind you
The rear wall is ahead of you
The left wall is to your left
The right wall is to your right

When referring to different parts of a wall, assume you are facing the wall. Refer to the diagram below to understand the terminology for individual parts of a wall:

(A) Burial chamber J1, front wall, right part.
(B) Burial chamber J1, right wall, left part.
(C) Burial chamber J1, left wall, center part.

Parts of two-tiered chambers are described as the upper section and the lower section.

Pillars are numbered from front to back, left to right. Faces are described in the same way as walls.

These are numbered separately from pillars but use the same numbering convention.

The parts of gates are described as shown below: