Category: News

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty, Minister of Antiquities, announced the discovery of two tombs in the site of Tabbet El Geish, in south Saqqara. The discovery was made by the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities. The tombs still contained remains of the skeletons of their owners, priest “Ankhti” and priest “Sabi”, who both lived during the reign of Pepy II (2240- 2150 BC) of the 6^th Dynasty.

Dr. El Damaty added that the tombs present several scenes depicting the typical 6^th Dynasty ritual to make offerings to the gods. The colourful paintings are well preserved although approximately 4,200 years have passed since the construction of the tombs. These depictions provide archaeologists with new insight into the religious traditions of the 6^th Dynasty and highlight the creative genius of the Ancient Egyptians.

When the archaeological team entered the burial rooms, the owners’ skeletons were found on the ground, suggesting that the tombs may have been tampered with in ancient times. Egyptologists think that they may have been exposed to looting and theft during the 7^th and 8^th Dynasties. Despite this likely possibility, a number of artefacts were found near the owners’ remains, including funerary objects, small alabaster jars, offering samples made of limestone, as well as pottery.

Dr. Vassil Dobrev, head of the IFAO archaeological mission in Tabbet El Geish, said that the upper part of the tombs was built with raw mud bricks, while the burial rooms were cut into the white limestone bedrock. The team was able to reveal the burial chamber of priest “Sabi” at a depth of 6 metres while the burial chamber of priest “Ankhti” at 12 metres.

The scenes painted in the burial chamber of “Ankhti” show several offerings, the most important of which are the large jars with the seven sacred oils, believed to be essential for the completion of the Opening of the Mouth Ritual. On the left wall appears a list of names and quantities of traditional offerings, a false door, and depictions of meat, birds, bread, vegetables, jars of milk, barley syrup and other liquids. The burial chamber of “Sabi” presents similar paintings.

Sources: Supreme Council of Antiquities, Luxor Times

The Egyptian Museum in Turin has reopened today after a complete restyling which lasted three and a half years. The Museum, founded in 1824 and host to the world’s second-largest collection of Egyptian artefacts (the first being at the Cairo Egyptian Museum), has undergone major renovation work for the cost of 50 million euros. The exhibition space has been significantly increased and allows now to display 6,500 objects, some of which had been kept in storage for decades. A modern layout, new display cases and digital 3D contents have improved greatly the visitor’s experience, providing exhaustive explanations of the artefacts and reducing crowding around masterpieces such as the vast papyrus collection and the beautiful tomb of Kha.

Zahi Hawass commented that “the new Egyptian Museum in Turin is beautiful. The renovation work has modernised the exhibition spaces greatly, providing it with new advanced technologies, which are essential today to spark people’s interest in history and archaeology. I would like to congratulate Evelina Christillin, President of the Fondazione Museo delle Antichità Egizie di Torino, Christian Greco, the Museum’s Director, and all those who contributed to the project for the great work done. This new museum finally matches up to the wonderful collection of artefacts hosted under its roof.”

For further information on the museum visit www.museoegizio.it

Sources: ANSA, The Telegraph

[metaslider id=3402]

[metaslider id=3414]

Two new tombs were discovered in the past two weeks in the site of Sheikh Abd El Qurna, in Luxor, by the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), with the support of USAID and the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. Both tombs date back to the prosperous 18th Dinasty of the New Kingdom and were discovered while mapping the adjacent courtyard of Theban Tomb 110 (TT110).

The first tomb, discovered last week, belongs to Amenhotep, who is also called Rebiu, the door-keeper of god Amun. As the Ministry of Antiquities reported, the tomb is T shaped and consists of a transverse hall 5.10 metres long and 1.50 metres wide that leads to another chamber that is 2.50 metres long and 2.10 metres wide. There is a small unfinished niche at the eastern end and there is also an entrance to the south that leads to a small side room which is 2×2 metres. At the centre of this room there is a shaft that may lead to the burial chamber.

[metaslider id=3302]

[metaslider id=3316]

Minister El Damaty added that the tomb contains many stunning scenes with bright colours painted on plaster. Many of the scenes represent the tomb owner and his wife in front of an offering table. Other scenes show the tomb owner making an offering to a goddess nursing a royal child, as well as scenes of daily life and the owner’s funerary rites.

General Director of Upper Egypt, Sultan Eid commented that the tomb was deliberately damaged in ancient time; the name and titles of the tomb owner, some hieroglyphic texts and scenes in addition to the names of the god Amun were deliberately erased.

The second tomb, discovered this week, is also T shaped and belongs to Sa-Mut. It contains a number of beautiful scenes painted on plaster with extremely bright colours. There are scenes representing everyday life activities, celebration scenes and other scenes representing the tomb owner and his wife Ta Khaeet. The tomb consists of a transverse hall and unfinished side chambers with shafts. It was robbed in antiquity and some of the texts and scenery were deliberately damaged.

This second tomb lies to the east of TT110 and shares the same courtyard; the door of this newly discovered tomb opens to the north, and to the south of the door of the tomb of Amenhotep (Rebiu), discovered last week.

Sources: Supreme Council of Antiquities, USAID

[metaslider id=3308]