Why was the west bank of ancient Thebes known as the city of the dead?

The west bank of ancient Thebes was known as the "city of the dead," or necropolis, primarily because it served as the extensive burial ground for the city.12

During the New Kingdom, pharaohs sought to protect their royal burials by concealing them in the remote hills of the west bank, most notably within the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. In addition to these royal tombs, the area contained numerous mortuary temples dedicated to the cults of deceased rulers, as well as the Tombs of the Nobles.341

While the east bank served as the main residential and administrative center, the west bank was dedicated to the afterlife. It housed not only the tombs and temples but also the communities of priests, craftsmen, and laborers who were devoted to the service of the Egyptian rulers and the maintenance of these funerary sites.1