Rare discovery in Egypt. Dozens of mummified cats
In one of the tombs near the pyramids in Sakkara, archaeologists found dozens of mummified cats and scarabs and other animals. Along with the mummy collection, numerous statues and statuettes were also found.
Mummies cat and scarabs were discovered in seven tombs in the Sakkara burial complex, about 30 kilometers south of Cairo. Researchers emphasize that it is an extremely rare find. During the excavations archaeologists came across a door to a burial chamber, which The tomb appeared not to have been opened for thousands of years, suggesting that the contents of the tomb r also remains intact.
The find was made in tombs located near the pyramid built for Pharaoh Userkaf – the first ruler of the fifth dynasty. The period of his reign is still disputed. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities stated in a press release that this pharaoh ruled from 2291 p.n.e. to 2289 p.n.e.
The discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission during excavations that began in April. Four of the seven tombs come from the time in the Old Kingdom. This period in the history of ancient Egypt falls between ca. 2675–2170 p.n.e. The most important of them dates back to the fifth dynasty and belongs to a man named Kufu-Imhat, who ry was a supervisor and constructor of buildings at the kr lewski. One tomb from this period researchers have not been able to open.
The other three tombs come from much p of a more recent period, since the time of the in the New Kingdom and it was in them that mummified cats were found. This is the 1570s – 1070 p.n.e. In the tomb were also found wooden statues of a cat . Some re of them are richly decorated.
They were found there r There is also a statue made of bronze, which The first sarcophagus in limestone contains two large scarabs wrapped in a cloth omen p ł-cat. In mythology, the goddess has many powers. There was a b This is the first mummified scarab, a protective device that can protect against a variety of dangers. She was also a goddess associated with music, dance and pleasure.
Other discoveries were also made within the complex. This m.in. statues depicting a lion, a cow, a falcon and a crocodile, and two mummified cobras, which re found in wooden sarcophagi in the shape of a cobra. Discovered It also contained papyri containing verses from the "Books of the dead", kt The sarcophagus is a kind of guidebook for the deceased, containing a series of incantations and instructions that to help them navigate the afterlife. In addition, archaeologists have discovered parts of human mummies, the remains of tombs in intended for humans, the remains of baskets, ropes and clay jars.
Mummified animal bodies are not unusual for ancient Egypt. Researchers estimate that there may even be about 70 million . Most of them are animals considered sacred – ibis, crocodiles, cats or dogs. But mummified scarabs are a real rarity. In miniature sarcophagi decorated with images of scarabs.
– The mummified scarab is something really special. This is something really rare. I have never heard of something like this before – Mustafa al-Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said. The Secretary added that museums in Europe and the USA do not have similar specimens .
The first sarcophagus, carved from limestone, contained two large scarabs wrapped in a flap tnem and in good condition. The second, smaller sarcophagus was more simply decorated and contained several smaller scarabs. These are the first mummified scarabs, which re have been discovered at the necropolis in Sakkara.
Excavations continue. Wkr tce archaeologists will want to get into a tomb that has not yet been opened.
Source Source: Live Science, Science Alert, fot. Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities
