Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Dennis Donovan

(18,770 posts)
Sat Nov 14, 2020, 09:46 AM Nov 2020

Egypt unveils ancient coffins, statues found in Saqqara

https://apnews.com/article/egypt-cairo-middle-east-coronavirus-pandemic-e39686f3d2dd1386de294eb4569db23e


Journalists gather around an ancient sarcophagus more than 2500 years old, discovered in a vast necropolis and Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, center, in Saqqara, Giza, Egypt, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. Egyptian antiquities officials on Saturday announced the discovery of at least 100 ancient coffins, some with mummies inside, and around 40 gilded statues south of Cairo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

By SAMY MAGDY
an hour ago

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian antiquities officials on Saturday announced the discovery of at least 100 ancient coffins, some with mummies inside, and around 40 gilded statues in a vast Pharaonic necropolis south of Cairo.

Colorful, sealed sarcophagi and statues that were buried more than 2,500 years ago were displayed in a makeshift exhibit at the feet of the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara.

Archaeologists opened a coffin with a well-preserved mummy wrapped in cloth inside. They also carried out X‐raying visualizing the structures of the ancient mummy, showing how the body had been preserved.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anany told a news conference that the discovered items date back to the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt for some 300 years — from around 320 B.C. to about 30 B.C., and the Late Period (664-332 B.C.).

He said they would move the artifacts to at least three Cairo museums including the Grand Egyptian Museum that Egypt is building near the famed Giza Pyramids. He said they would announce another discovery at the Saqqara necropolis later this year.

-/snip-


This shit *never* ends well - I didn't have "mummy curse" on my 2020 bingo card...
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Egypt unveils ancient coffins, statues found in Saqqara (Original Post) Dennis Donovan Nov 2020 OP
Super cool! nt leftofthestorm Nov 2020 #1
Trump would be claiming Chainfire Nov 2020 #2
I was watching the special on Netflix. 58Sunliner Nov 2020 #3
It's 2020, don't be digging that shit up!!! nt USALiberal Nov 2020 #4

58Sunliner

(4,380 posts)
3. I was watching the special on Netflix.
Sat Nov 14, 2020, 10:34 AM
Nov 2020

Apparently one of the main tombs was a priest to the pharaoh who apparently had a touch of megalomania. Very interesting.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Egypt unveils ancient cof...