57 Ancient Tombs Cracked Open in Egypt
An Erie County Sheriff's helicopter searches at the scene of a shooting at Erie Count Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y., June 13, 2012. / AP Photo/David Duprey
Archeologists have unearthed 57 ancient Egyptian tombs, most of which hold an ornately painted wooden sarcophagus with a mummy inside, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said Sunday.
The oldest tombs date back to around 2750 B.C. during the period of Egypt's first and second dynasties, the council said in a statement. Twelve of the tombs belong the 18th dynasty which ruled Egypt during the second millennium B.C.
The discovery throws new light on Egypt's ancient religions, the council said.
Egypt's archaeology chief, Zahi Hawass, said the mummies dating to the 18th dynasty are covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead and scenes featuring ancient Egyptian deities.
Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, head of the archaeological mission that made the discovery, said some of the tombs are decorated with religious texts that ancient Egyptians believed would help the deceased to cross through the underworld.
El-Aydi said one of the oldest tombs is almost completely intact, with all of its funerary equipment and a wooden sarcophagus containing a mummy wrapped in linen.
In 31 tombs dating to around 2030-1840 B.C, archeologists discovered scenes of different ancient Egyptian deities, such as the falcon-headed Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun, decorating some of the tombs.
The council said the findings were unearthed at Lahoun, in Fayoum, some 70 miles south of Cairo.
Last year, some 53 stone tombs dating back to various ancient periods were found in the area.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The oldest tombs date back to around 2750 B.C. during the period of Egypt's first and second dynasties, the council said in a statement. Twelve of the tombs belong the 18th dynasty which ruled Egypt during the second millennium B.C.
The discovery throws new light on Egypt's ancient religions, the council said.
Egypt's archaeology chief, Zahi Hawass, said the mummies dating to the 18th dynasty are covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead and scenes featuring ancient Egyptian deities.
Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, head of the archaeological mission that made the discovery, said some of the tombs are decorated with religious texts that ancient Egyptians believed would help the deceased to cross through the underworld.
El-Aydi said one of the oldest tombs is almost completely intact, with all of its funerary equipment and a wooden sarcophagus containing a mummy wrapped in linen.
In 31 tombs dating to around 2030-1840 B.C, archeologists discovered scenes of different ancient Egyptian deities, such as the falcon-headed Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun, decorating some of the tombs.
The council said the findings were unearthed at Lahoun, in Fayoum, some 70 miles south of Cairo.
Last year, some 53 stone tombs dating back to various ancient periods were found in the area.
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It is fascinating to see how advancements in Babylonian & Egyptian cultures contributed to the rise of the great ancient empires of Greece & Rome.
What is the chance that some of the extreme estimates of 9,000 thousand years old for the sphinxes.
In light of the fact, that they conducted 'dig rights' to the highest bidder, in the case of the Great Sphinx...
and in light of the fact, that secret digging, loading, and removal
is being conducted in the area beneath the left paw of the Sphinx,
which is supposed to house the Hall of Records...
how, in Heaven's name, can the rest of the world believe anything
that Zahi Hawass and the Egyptians say?!
Their lack of candor combined with their actions, clearly show us
that we CANNOT!
I believe the recovered artifacts will be destroyed, hidden away,
altered, and displayed, as necessary, to articulate history as the
Egyptians want, instead of the way it actually WAS!
Thus, denying the world...not just Egyptians...TRUE knowledge!