Month: November 2023

Located along the shores of Lake Nasser, deep in the heart of the Nubian Desert, lies a treasure that stands as one of Egypt’s most impressive wonders: the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel.

A wonder of history:

The Temple of Ramses II, often called the Great Temple, arose during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, one of Egypt’s most renowned leaders. Its construction lasted between 1274 and 1244 BC. C., a living testimony of the greatness of the pharaoh and an emblem of his dominion over Nubia, which encompasses the lands of southern and northern Sudan.

The iconic façade:

As you approach the temple, you will immediately be struck by the colossal statues standing guard at its entrance. Four immense figures of Ramses II, each with a formidable height of 20 meters, project his imposing presence over the expanse of the desert. These statues were painstakingly crafted to capture every facet of the pharaoh’s magnificence, displaying intricate details of his royal attire and formidable countenance.

Exploring the inner sanctum:

Entering the temple transports you to an era of opulence and reverence. The great hall is adorned with intricate wall carvings and hieroglyphs depicting scenes from the reign of Ramses II, his triumphant military campaigns and his divine connections. The temple was consecrated to the deities Amun, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah, further emphasizing the divine position of Ramses II.

The phenomenon of solar alignment:

One of the most striking features of the Temple of Ramses II is its celestial alignment. Twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, sunlight penetrates the inner sanctuary of the temple, illuminating the statues of the gods placed at the back of the hall, casting only the statue of Ptah in shadow , the god of darkness. This impressive phenomenon is testimony to the advanced astronomical knowledge possessed by the architects of ancient Egypt.

Rescue and Relocation:

In the 1960s, the construction of the Aswan High Dam posed a serious threat to the temple, as the rising waters of Lake Nasser threatened to submerge it. In a remarkable international effort, the temple was meticulously dismantled and relocated to its current location, 65 meters higher and 200 meters further back from its original site. This heroic effort ensured the preservation of this cultural gem for future generations.

A trip of importance:

Exploring the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel transcends mere tourism; It is a journey through the annals of time. It offers the opportunity to be in the presence of one of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs and marvel at the architectural ingenuity of ancient Egypt. With its rich history, exquisite craftsmanship and fascinating solar phenomenon, a visit to Abu Simbel is a must on every traveler’s itinerary.

Mientras te encuentras a la sombra de estas colosales estatuas y dentro de los sagrados salones de este magnífico templo, no puedes evitar sentirte envuelto por el peso de la historia y el legado perdurable de Ramsés II, grabado para siempre en las arenas del sur de Egipto. .

Photo: CCTV

More than 10 tons of ancient coins dating back to the West Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) were unearthed at royal tombs in East China’s Jiangxi Province, The Mirror reported Thursday.

Archaeologists uncovered a total 2 million copper wuzhu coins from the imperial tomb for the Marquis of Haihun State, near present-day Nanchang, estimated to be the equivalent of 10 million yuan ($1,575,000) in the currency of the time, media reported.

Xu Changqing, head of the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, explained the coins are grouped in strings of 1,000, a monetary unit used at the time.

The site has yielded more than 10,000 objects over the past five years, all of which have helped paint a picture as to the life of aristocrats during the West Han dynasty, according to the institute.

Archaeologists consider the tombs most well-preserved example of West Han Dynasty royalty ever discovered, Xinhua reported.

Photo: CCTV

Photo: Xinhua

Photo: Xinhua

Exhibition on Tutankhamun’s tomb
1. Tutankhamun’s mummy

22, the famous British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

When it was discovered, Tutankhamun’s tomb was filled with ancient treasures, including jewelry, gilded altarpieces, and a solid gold mask. This “shocking” discovery fueled global fascination with Egyptian civilization.

Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered in 1922.
After decades of speculation about whether the young king died of murder, Dr. Zahi Hawass of Egypt’s supreme council of antiquities said his team believes King Tut died after breaking his leg in a chariot accident. His leg wound became infected and killed King Tut.

The mummy of King Tutankhamun.
King Tut became pharaoh when he was 9 years old and ruled for about 10 years. The discovery of his tomb fueled the myth of the mummy’s curse when Carter’s partner and financier, Egyptologist George Herbert, died from a mosquito bite a few months later.

2. Mummy of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is one of the most prominent female figures in Egyptian history, establishing new trade routes and carrying out major construction projects before her death at the age of 50 in 1458 BC and reigning for almost two decades.
Temple of Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut was the half-sister and wife of Pharaoh Thutmose II. According to custom, she was appointed regent for her son after the death of her husband. However, within a few years he proclaimed himself pharaoh. Hatshepsut was also discovered by Carter in 1902, but her coffin was empty.

Mummy of Hatshepsut
Carter excavated a separate grave containing two coffins: one of the queen’s wet nurse and another of an unidentified woman. In 2006, Egyptian archaeologist and former Minister of State for Antiquities Zahi Hawass and his team attempted to determine whether the other woman could be the missing queen.

A molar found in a wooden box bearing Hatshepsut’s name perfectly matched the space in the mummy’s upper jaw, leading Dr. Hawass to believe that the mummy was actually Hatshepsut. CT scans of Hatshepsut’s supposed mummy show that she died at age fifty due to a ruptured abscess after a tooth was removed. Metastases from bone cancer, as well as from liver cancer and diabetes, can also be observed.

3. Mummy of Thutmose III

Thutmose III was the son of Pharaoh Thutmose II; His mother was one of the king’s concubines, her name was Isis. Thutmose III ruled the country with his stepmother and his aunt, Hatshepsut, for 22 years.

A few months after coming to power, Thutmose III led his army of 20,000 soldiers to Megiddo, in modern-day northern Israel, a place better known by its Greek name Armageddon. Thutmose III’s scribe accompanied him on this journey and recorded the campaign in detail, an invaluable chronicle now known as the Chronicle of Thutmose III.

Portrait sculpture of Thutmose III.
Thutmose III was a brilliant military strategist. He transformed Egypt from an introspective kingdom to a victorious and conquering nation. Historians also call him “Napoleon of Egypt.”

4. Seti yo mom

Menmaatre Seti I was pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt. Seti I was the only son of Ramses I and Queen Sitre. During the early years of his reign, Seti led his army north to restore Egypt’s prestige, which had been partly lost during the difficult years of the late 18th Dynasty.

He fought in northern Palestine and Syria. Seti I’s greatest achievement in foreign policy was the capture of the Syrian city of Kadesh and the neighboring territory of Amurru from the Hittite empire.

Momia de Seti I.
Seti fortified Egypt’s borders, opened mines and quarries, dug wells, and rebuilt decaying or damaged temples and shrines. He also took charge of the construction of the great temple of Karnak, started by his father.

Seti I was buried in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes, Egypt. The tomb was discovered in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Belzoni. His mummy was not found here, but was found in tomb DB320 in Deir el-Bahri.

5. Mummy of Ramses II

Ramses II also known as Ramses the Great, is one of the most famous Egyptian pharaohs of all time. Ramses II reigned for almost 60 years and died when he was about 90 years old. Many sources believe that he had more than 100 children.
Biography of Ramses II

Mummy of Ramses II.
His mummy was discovered in 1881 in the Valley of the Kings. Ramses II’s body was brought to Paris in 1974 to be treated for a fungal infection. According to Egyptian law, the dead must also have complete documents in order to travel abroad.

The mummy of Ramesses II received a passport from the Egyptian government and became the first mummy to receive this privilege. Not only does it have a photo of Ramses II’s face, the passport also has a section declaring the ancient Egyptian pharaoh’s occupation as “King (deceased).” The mummy of Ramesses II was received with the ceremony typical of a king upon his arrival in France.

6. Mummy Meritamen

Meritamen is the daughter and queen of Pharaoh Ramses II, the great pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Consanguineous marriage was common in ancient Egypt.

Momia deserves it.
It is unclear whether Meritamen died during his father’s reign or during Merneptah’s reign. Meritamen’s coffin lid is currently located in Berlin, Germany. Her titles and names are written on it, such as: Daughter of the King, Great Royal Wife, God Osiris…

7. Mummy Ahmose-Nefertari

Queen Ahmose-Nefertari was born in the ancient city of Thebes. She was the first queen of the 18th Dynasty. Ahmose-Nefertari was the chief queen of Pharaoh Ahmose I and the mother of Amenhotep I.

Mummy of Ahmose-Nefertari.
The queen died in 1495 BC. She was buried in Dra Abu el Naga, Egypt. Ahmose-Nefertari’s mummy was then moved to the DB320 mausoleum to avoid the gaze of grave robbers.

In 2021, three huge golden jars full of treasure were discovered in the Philippines, surprising both locals and the rest of the world. The jars contained an astonishing array of gold artifacts, precious stones, and other priceless items. Each one was more than a meter tall and weighed hundreds of kilograms. The jars were found by a group of locals who were digging a well in their backyard. They were surprised to discover that the jars were far below the surface, just as they were by their contents. The treasures included priceless items such as intricate sculptures, gold jewelry and coins from ancient times.

The Giza Sphinx faces east, while the pyramids’ sides are aligned precisely in the cardinal directions. There is little doubt that the Sun or stars must have been used to align the Giza pyramids, but was there an actual use for the directions in which they were built? And what might we deduce from their specific alignment? This article argues that the directions these structures are aligned in may reveal that there are more hidden chambers inside the pyramids. What’s more, both the starry sky and Nile flood phenomenon may furthermore explain the Sphinx figure and its location.

Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities photo showing the sun set along Khafre’s pyramid at equinox. ( Ministry of Antiquities )

An Ancient Origins article by Ed Whelan displayed a photo of the Sun setting behind the Sphinx’ shoulder at equinox . The article claims that this photo could revolutionize our understanding of the ancient structure. Reading this triggered a personal desire to find out more about directions at Giza. While it is true that the straight lines of the pyramids could be useful for determining astronomical events, such as equinoxes and more, I believed that the Sphinx itself wouldn’t be able to provide any good sight lines as it lies parallel to, but clearly off the sight line along the southern side of Khafre’s pyramid if you look at a map.

Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees, which gives us winter and summer. Shown here for the northern hemisphere. (Illustration by author)

Precise East-West Line of the Great Pyramid of Giza

The Pyramid of Khufu, another name for the Great Pyramid of Giza , was the first built at Giza. Pinpointing sunrise and sunset directions any day from a central spot with a length of rope would provide rather precise points for an east-west line, although the results would be best during the solstice. The very precise lines of Khufu’s pyramid really are remarkably accurate – just small fractions of one degree off the true directions. The rising and setting of a star could also have been used to the same effect.

Sunrise line on the Earth at Autumn Equinox (imagine the Earth is tilting towards you). The Sun rises due east no matter the latitude. Sunset is due west at the same time on the opposite side of Earth. (Illustration by author)

Astronomical Importance of North and South

Many of us know how to find north at night by looking at the starry sky. The pyramids were also aligned using the stars around the North Pole. South is also a good direction astronomically. It is valuable for seeing when, at night, different stars or planets cross the due south line (the Meridian). Just think of the Sun. How do you figure out where the Sun is in the starry sky? When the Sun is up, you cannot see the stars behind it. But if you observe which stars are due south at midnight, you also know that the Sun must be in the exact opposite direction. If you know your sky, you know where that is. Of course this reasoning presupposes an idea of a circular movement that also applies to night hours.

Andreas Cellarius illustration from 1660 showing the belt of the Zodiac. ( Public domain )

The Zodiac and the Decans

The Earth is surrounded by stars in all directions. If you imagine the stars as fixed to a giant sphere, this is similar to the vision which Europeans of antiquity and the Middle Ages believed in. All the Sun’s planets, including the Earth and its moon, have orbits around the Sun more or less in the same plane. This causes the Sun, the Moon and planets, when observed from Earth, to appear to have a band or sphere of stars in the background: the Zodiac.

Think of the Sun’s daily route, as this gives you a good idea of which part of the sky that is. This band likewise seems to rotate, with the southern half of the band above the horizon, while the northern half is below the horizon (due to the Earth tilting). The two halves meet at the horizons in east and west. At Giza (latitude 30°N), the band rises higher on the southern sky than in central or northern Europe.

Possibly already during Khufu’s time, the Egyptians had divided the belt of stars into 36 decans, each covering a 10 day passing of the Sun – a 10-day week. They added five days in the end of the year to give the year 365 days (but they missed the extra day every fourth year). It is questionable, but not impossible, that they were familiar with some of the later zodiacal signs in Khufu’s days.

The narrow north-south staircase in Khufu’s mortuary temple along the eastern wall of his pyramid complex would provide excellent observation posts for star or planet passages. The temple roof gave sky overview and the (un-roofed) staircase precision. (Illustrations by author and from IES Edwards: The Pyramids of Egypt, 1947)

A Staircase Observatory?

Earth fulfills one full rotation in twenty-four hours. Viewed from the ground we experience this as the Sun circling around Earth once in a day and a night. The same goes for all the stars of the Zodiac, the decans, and the Moon and planets too.

The Meridian – the sight line due south from horizon and upwards – is, as mentioned, most practical for keeping record of the Sun’s position. It is also very useful, if you wish to precisely measure the slow changes in planet positions in the signs of the Zodiac or decans. Or basically record distances between stars to produce a star map.

At Giza they could use the side of a pyramid to aim due south and a vertical hanging wire to mark the Meridian in front of them. But frankly it seems inelegant to have to lean on a slanting side of a pyramid while observing the passage of stars and planets. Instead, for example, the narrow south-north staircase leading to the roof of Khufu’s mortuary temple seems a smarter observation post, if un-roofed (see illustration above).

Even though the sight line wouldn’t be directly along a side of a pyramid, the wall surrounding it would run parallel to the pyramid’s sides. The narrow walls on both sides of the staircase would nicely frame the south direction – a stick or cord in the middle would help narrow the precision (come to think of it: If they used this method, the different steps which were used as posts in a way actually expressed different latitudes of observed stars).

Time measuring is important to record precise passage of hours, because time gone equals distance. The water clock, a bowl with a small hole near the bottom and hours marked inside, is said to be a later invention. Either they had invented a good time measurement method already then, or they weren’t able to get the best out of the precise sight line they had. Instead they may just have referred the planet positions to the decans, which were used as night-hour counters (the night hour numbers confusingly shifting one decan every 10 nights, matching the opposite movement of the Sun). This way of recording planet positions would not match the precision of the pyramid.

Anyway, they would only need one good sight line north-south for observation purposes, so when all the pyramids at Giza are aligned in the cardinal directions, maybe we should look into possible symbolism of these directions?

Symbolism of Directions in the Pyramids

There is one obvious daily life symbolism, which is inevitable to notice: Nature gifted Egypt with two dominating life-sustaining forces: the Sun and the Nile. Together they formed the base for Egypt’s early civilization. The Sun was sailing from east to west up in the sky , and the Nile was flowing from south to north down on the ground . Can these both be related to the pyramids’ orientation?

High and low directions of sun (east-west) and Nile (south-north). (Illustration by author)

Corridors in some of the pyramids run parallel to their sides straight in the cardinal directions. It can be productive to consider the symbolism of the pyramids’ inner architecture as reflecting the outer world, including the directions of the Sun and the Nile. If you already accept that the east-west direction refers to the Sun, it is not that unlikely that the south-north direction refers to the Nile besides any nightly astronomical importance.

The Bent Pyramid at Dashur (one of the two or three pyramids which Khufu’s father built) has two entrances, the corridors leading from north (bottom of drawing) due south, and from west (right) leading due east. Notice that the upper chamber lies south-east of the center in this pyramid. (Rainer Stadelmann / Die Ägyptischen Pyramiden)

Khufu’s Father’s Most Interesting Pyramid

The Bent Pyramid of pharaoh Sneferu, the father of Khufu, includes two corridors: a lower leading from north strictly southwards, as is normal in pyramids, but also a corridor leading from west strictly eastwards at a higher level. This corridor was discovered from the inside out through a narrow ancient dug tunnel. The two corridors were apparently not planned to demonstrate in architecture that they were connected.

With equal right, the corridors can be regarded as following the Nile’s and the Sun’s moving directions leading out of the pyramid, as leading the opposite directions in, for priests humbly approaching the sacred shrines/chambers.

The north-south corridor leads to the lower chambers (representing the king’s body or life on earth?), while the east-west corridor follows the Sun’s daily birth or sailing direction. This corridor leads to the highest situated chamber, which logically must represent the afterlife, where the king joins the sun god in his boat crossing the sky from east to west. Two blocking stones in this upper corridor frame the lower corridors and chambers, and could be understood as symbolically denoting birth and death of the king, the two portals of earthly life.

Such an interpretation of the interior chamber system offers a built-in illustration of an unrecognized, but logical, stairway to heaven. It also raises questions regarding the possibility of finding east-west corridors higher up in other pyramids with respect to the pyramids’ purpose of being a ladder, helping the spirit of the king climb up and join the sun in the sky. This would mean that there could be hidden chambers in several pyramids yet to discover!

Proposed chamber system in Khufu’s pyramid (looking south-east) with a similar entrance high on the west side. (Illustration by author)

Khufu’s Undiscovered Chamber

I previously published a two-part series of articles on Ancient Origins : The Great Pyramid: New Theory on God Symbolism and the Hidden Chambers and Hidden Chamber and Meaning: Is the Great Pyramid for a King or Priests? In these, I argue for the existence of a similar higher west-east corridor in Khufu’s pyramid with an entrance on the west side, leading strictly eastwards to the sun god Ra-Atum’s unknown chamber (which I, unrelated to directions, had deduced the existence of). The known corridors lead in my understanding from the north entrance southwards to the three known chambers, honoring from bottom up the earthbound element-gods: the earth god Geb, the water goddess Tefnut, and the air god Shu, respectfully. Together with Ra-Atum and Nut, the starry sky (top chamber), these five gods were the first born gods in nearby Heliopolis’ creation story and therefore quite relevant at Giza.

Transparent plan of the chambers of Khufu’s pyramid. The supposed “sun’s chamber” (fat dotted line), completes the chamber layout having the well in the subterranean chamber as center point. Notice that the chamber system lies southeast from the center – and that the well is turned in the direction of the Sphinx. Only sky goddess Nut’s top chamber is bound to be directly under apex (not included). (Illustration by author)

Is “Southeast” Somehow Important?

Assuming this heaven and earth symbolism actually can be applied to some of the pyramids, there is more to learn about directions. In the Bent Pyramid the upper (sun’s) chamber lies southeast of the center. In Khufu’s pyramid, the chambers follow a system centered round the well in the subterranean chamber, which likewise is placed southeast of the pyramid’s center. The square well is even turned diagonally so as to underscore the southeast direction. If we follow the same line further out, we find the Sphinx.

My proposed location of an undiscovered chamber (the sun god’s chamber) is also centered over the well’s position, following and fulfilling a simple principle: each chamber points to a different cardinal direction (sun god’s eastwards, see drawing), and the sun’s chamber itself lies southeast of the center, like in Khufu’s father’s pyramid.

It has been noted that the south-east corners of all three major pyramids at Giza are aligned on a perpendicular north-east / south-west line. Some other pyramid complexes also have the southeast direction accentuated. This means that the southeast direction must generally have been important.

The turning of the well in the subterranean chamber, as well as the displacement of the chamber system in southeast direction, may indicate that Khufu’s pyramid (the first built at Giza) was placed to underscore the direction to the Sphinx, which was probably already there or was created at the same time.

Left: The quadratic form of the shrine for the canopic jars might indicate that each son of Horus resided over a quadrant of directions. Canopic chest of Hetepheres, wife of Seneferu (Khufu’s father), Giza, 4 ^th dynasty. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. (Aidan Dodson / University of Bristol )Right: Jars with lids in the form of the sons of Horus .(Luxor Museum / Museum Syndicate )

Gods of Directions

In 1901, E.A. Wallis Budge wrote in Egyptian Magic about the four sons of Horus, who each protected a jar with organs of the deceased king:

“They played a very important part in the funeral works of the early dynasties; they originally represented the four supports of heaven, but very soon each was regarded as the god of one of the four quarters of the earth, and also of that quarter of the heavens which was above it.”
Now the interesting question is how “the four quarters of earth” and the sky above it is to be understood: each resided over one of the cardinal directions, but was the quarter measured 45° to each side of it, or was it measured from one cardinal direction to the next (a quadrant)? The quadratic canopic jar chests have the jars in corners, which might imply quadrants.

If this last way was the one, each god resided over a corner of a pyramid. The human-headed god Mehsta (Wallis Budge, others call him Imsety/Amset) would be the one residing over all directions from south to east, which would encompass all the chambers in Khufu’s pyramid, and further out the Sphinx. Could this mean that the Sphinx’ head could be Meshta / Imsety’s human head. But whose corpse is it then? East residing Jackal-headed Tuamutef (/Duamutef)? There is another possibility.

Egyptian god Hapi (left) pouring water from jars (Denderah temple, c. 50 BC), may be the origin of later illustrations of Aquarius (right) traditionally pouring water out of jars. Hapi wears the crown of upper Egypt in the image. He was believed to live in caves close to Aswan, in the region of the 1 ^st cataract where the waters of the Nile were supposed to spring from. (Left: Author provided. Right: Fromold Books )

Star Constellations and Sphinx

The images of the constellations of the Zodiac were, we are usually told, first defined in Mesopotamia or Babylon. If the star constellation of the big lion was a figure which the Egyptians recognized in the sky when the Sphinx was made, it could connect this figure with stars.

The opposite constellation, the one we today call Aquarius, is on the Dendera temple star map (presumably c. 50 BC) cut in the figure of Hapi, Egyptian god for the Nile’s annual flood. I wish both the lion and this Hapi star sign are elder. The implications are interesting.

As mentioned, the opposite constellation to Leo is Aquarius, or Hapi. In star-gazing terms, there is a connection between the two: as the sun set in the west, in the constellation of Leo, Hapi’s constellation rose in the east. During the night the sun traveled through the underworld, while Hapi crossed the sky from east to its highest peak in south at midnight, and then finally set in the west as the lion sun rose in the east for another fine day. Could this explain the collaboration of Leo and Hapi being expressed in a statue like the Sphinx?

Computer calculation of sunrise at Giza 2550 BC, approximately at the day of Sirius’ heliacal rise, with the sun in Leo (mirrored question mark) rising below the left arrow. Sirius/Sothis/Sobdet is below the right arrow. ( Public Domain )

Heliacal Rise of Sirius (Sothis)

During the daytime, it is impossible to see the stars in the sky. The sun moves east 1° a day, so looking at the eastern horizon just before sunrise, the Zodiac / decans and other stars appear day by day the opposite way at the same speed as the Sun leaves them: 1° a day. The day the bright star Sirius (Sothis/Sobdet) reappeared after having been invisible was seen as a sign of the beginning of the annual flood of the Nile waters.

With the help of a computer program, I have pinpointed the Sirius heliacal rise at the time of Khufu. The hour is just at sunrise to show the Sun’s summer position north of east at sunrise. Sirius is visible above the horizon south of east. It doesn’t rise at the full 45° of south-east, but c. 27-28° south of east. So Sirius lies within the quarter of Meshta/Imsety, but is too far off south-east to claim Sirius the intended target for south-east importance, if we demand precision.

With no lines pointing clearly to Sirius, practical calendar use of the pyramids’ sight lines would therefore have been limited to equinoxes, without leaving traces of that to history other than the pyramids themselves and their sight lines.

Nevertheless, this day of Sirius’ heliacal rise the Sun is in the Leo Constellation (the mirrored “question mark”), so the above mentioned collaboration between the constellations Leo and Hapi is nicely bound to the beginning of the Nile’s flood. So in the end the Sphinx, even with no clear sight lines, may be the one most obviously linked to both the Sun and stars.

Ancient Origins Tours will be investigating the Qasr el-Sagha temple, the Egyptian Labyrinth, and Amenemhat III’s pyramid at Hawara as part of a very special expedition in Egypt in September 2021. Why not join us for this unique experience that will bring you closer than ever before to Egypt’s first female ruler, whose story is now being told for the first time. The trip will include writer and author Andrew Collins, who will be speaking extensively about Sobekneferu and her world.

For more information on Ancient Origins Egypt Tour click here .

Top image: What secrets could the alignment of the Giza Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza be hiding? Could there be further hidden pyramid chambers inside the Great Pyramid? Source: Aliaksei / Adobe Stock

history – a  ‘Stonehenge’ hidden in the remote region of  Calcoene. These mysterious megaliths, believed to be over a thousand years old, were unveiled, quite unexpectedly, on a cattle ranch exposed by deforestation. This astonishing revelation offers a fresh  perspective on the ancient indigenous communities that once thrived within the  Amazon rainforest.  While the purpose of this stone arrangement is still the subject of speculation, scholars are leaning towards its use in astronomy.

Much like the famous Stonehenge in England, these massive stones could have served as an intricate  celestial calendar , helping ancient Amazonians track celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes. The existence of this stone circle prompts us to reconsider the capabilities and knowledge of indigenous Amazonian peoples from centuries past. It challenges the misconception that their societies were devoid of advanced scientific understanding. As we piece together the puzzle of these megaliths, we gain deeper insights into the rich history and cultural achievements of the Amazon’s original inhabitants.

Top image: Parque Arqueológico do Solstício in Brazil. Source:  topensandoemviajar.

By Robbie Mitchell

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The artifacts date back to about 2,500 years ago, during Egypt’s Late Period, according to the Egyptian antiquities department. The treasure was found in the “Cemetery of Ancient Animals” in Saqqara, a temple complex on the outskirts of Cairo associated with the ancient Egyptian goddess, who was worshiped there in the form of a cat.

However, the complex changed its name in 2019, after archaeologists discovered several animal mummies and statues of Egyptian gods there.

Among the discoveries made on May 30, archaeologists discovered many figures representing Egyptian cats and gods and various gods and goddesses.

Statue of the goddess buried with the mummy found

“Today’s discovery confirms that the temple was not dedicated to cats but also to other Egyptian gods,” said excavation director Mohammed Al Saidi.

The Saqqara cemetery is located near the edge of a desert plateau about 25 kilometers south of Cairo. The ancient tomb has been the site of a large-scale excavation by Egyptian archaeologists since 2018. This is the fifth largest discovery of artifacts found there, including 59 mummies found in 2018. 2020 and there are still many years of work to be done.

The latest finds include around 150 bronze statues of ancient Egyptian gods, such as Anubis, the god of death often depicted with the head of a jackal; Osiris, king of the dead; Amon-Min, a fertility god often depicted with an erect penis; Nefertem, son of Bastet; Isis, wife of Osiris and goddess of fertility; and Hathor, an extremely popular goddess who was considered the protector of women.

Archaeologists also found two painted wooden statues of the goddesses Isis and Nephthys, or Nephthys, the sister of Isis. Both goddesses are represented as guardians of coffins, and each of the two statues has a face made of layers of gold leaf.

Archaeologists also found a papyrus scroll (paper made from reeds) in the same coffin; It was unrolled, but archaeologists believe it could have been up to 10 meters long and contained chapters from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a ritual text meant to guide a dead person’s journey across the other side of the world. It has now been sent to the laboratory for further tests.

This is the first time that artifacts from Egypt’s Late Period have been found in Saqqara, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.

Mustafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted that the first phase of excavations at Saqqara unearthed the unique tomb of a priest and official called “Wahtye,” who lived around 2,500 BC during the Fifth Dynasty.

Excavators also discovered seven dolmens in this area: three from Egypt’s New Kingdom period (1570 BC to 1069 BC) and four from the Old Kingdom period (2575 BC to 2150 BC). .).

Discovering the mummification technique of the ancient Egyptians: the greatest feat, after thousands of years, still causes admiration

Unʋ𝚎ilin𝚐 th𝚎 M𝚢st𝚎𝚛i𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊n M𝚞ммi𝚏ic𝚊ti𝚘n: Th𝚎 P𝚛𝚘c𝚎ss 𝚘𝚏 P𝚛𝚎s𝚎𝚛ʋin𝚐 th𝚎 D𝚎𝚊𝚍.

E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊n м𝚞ммi𝚏ic𝚊ti𝚘n is 𝚊 𝚙𝚛𝚘c𝚎ss th𝚊t inʋ𝚘lʋ𝚎s 𝚛𝚎м𝚘ʋin𝚐 𝚊ll м𝚘ist𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘м th𝚎 Ƅ𝚘𝚍𝚢, l𝚎𝚊ʋin𝚐 Ƅ𝚎hin𝚍 𝚊 𝚍𝚛i𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛м th𝚊t is 𝚛𝚎sist𝚊nt t𝚘 𝚍𝚎c𝚊𝚢. Th𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘c𝚎ss Ƅ𝚎𝚐ins with 𝚙𝚛i𝚎sts ins𝚎𝚛tin𝚐 𝚊 h𝚘𝚘k th𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐h 𝚊 h𝚘l𝚎 n𝚎𝚊𝚛 th𝚎 n𝚘s𝚎 𝚊n𝚍 𝚙𝚞llin𝚐 𝚘𝚞t 𝚙𝚊𝚛t 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚊in. Th𝚎n, 𝚊 c𝚞t is м𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚘n th𝚎 l𝚎𝚏t si𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 Ƅ𝚘𝚍𝚢 n𝚎𝚊𝚛 th𝚎 𝚊Ƅ𝚍𝚘м𝚎n t𝚘 𝚛𝚎м𝚘ʋ𝚎 𝚊ll int𝚎𝚛n𝚊l 𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚊ns, which 𝚊𝚛𝚎 l𝚎𝚏t t𝚘 𝚍𝚛𝚢. Fin𝚊ll𝚢, th𝚎 l𝚞n𝚐s, int𝚎stin𝚎s, st𝚘м𝚊ch, 𝚊n𝚍 liʋ𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎𝚍 insi𝚍𝚎 c𝚊n𝚘𝚙ic j𝚊𝚛s – 𝚊l𝚊Ƅ𝚊st𝚎𝚛 j𝚊𝚛s th𝚊t c𝚊n Ƅ𝚎 s𝚎𝚎n in м𝚊n𝚢 E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊n м𝚞s𝚎𝚞мs. This 𝚙𝚛𝚘c𝚎ss w𝚊s 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚛k 𝚊𝚛t th𝚊t h𝚎l𝚍 м𝚊n𝚢 s𝚎c𝚛𝚎ts, 𝚊n𝚍 its м𝚢st𝚎𝚛i𝚎s c𝚘ntin𝚞𝚎 t𝚘 𝚏𝚊scin𝚊t𝚎 𝚞s t𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢.

Iп Αпci𝚎пt E𝚐𝚢𝚙t, th𝚎 P𝚛i𝚎sts υs𝚎 F𝚘υ𝚛 Αl𝚊Ƅ𝚊st𝚎𝚛 J𝚊𝚛s F𝚘𝚛 th𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍 kiп𝚐’s 𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚊пs, th𝚎 𝚏i𝚛st 𝚘п𝚎 h𝚊𝚍 𝚊 hυм𝚊п h𝚎𝚊𝚍 it c𝚊п c𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚊п𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘t𝚎ct th𝚎 liʋ𝚎𝚛. Αп𝚍 it’s c𝚊ll𝚎𝚍 Iмs𝚎t𝚢. Th𝚎 2п𝚍 J𝚊𝚛 h𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚏𝚊lc𝚘п’s h𝚎𝚊𝚍 it c𝚊п c𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚊п𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘t𝚎ct𝚎𝚍 th𝚎 iпt𝚎stiп𝚎s 𝚊п𝚍 c𝚊ll𝚎𝚍 Q𝚎Ƅ𝚎hs𝚎пυ𝚏 Whil𝚎 th𝚎 3𝚛𝚍 J𝚊𝚛 h𝚊𝚍 th𝚎 h𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 Ƅ𝚊Ƅ𝚘𝚘п it’s c𝚊𝚛𝚛i𝚎𝚍 𝚊п𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘t𝚎ct𝚎𝚍 th𝚎 lυп𝚐s, 𝚊п𝚍 It’s c𝚊ll𝚎𝚍 H𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢. Th𝚎 l𝚊st 𝚘п𝚎 h𝚊𝚍 th𝚎 h𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 j𝚊ck𝚊l 𝚊п𝚍 c𝚊𝚛𝚛i𝚎𝚍 𝚊п𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘t𝚎ct𝚎𝚍 th𝚎 st𝚘м𝚊ch, 𝚊п𝚍 it’s c𝚊ll𝚎𝚍 Dυ𝚊м𝚊t𝚎𝚏. Αll L𝚘c𝚊t𝚎𝚍 𝚊t Th𝚎 Mυs𝚎υм 𝚘𝚏 C𝚊i𝚛𝚘 𝚊п𝚍 𝚎𝚊s𝚢 t𝚘 s𝚎𝚎 𝚘п th𝚎 2п𝚍 𝚏l𝚘𝚘𝚛. S𝚘м𝚎 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 Kiп𝚐’s Mυммi𝚎s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 l𝚘c𝚊t𝚎𝚍 iп Th𝚎 M𝚊мм𝚢 R𝚘𝚘м 𝚊t Th𝚎 E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊п Mυs𝚎υм whil𝚎 th𝚎 𝚛𝚎st 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎м still 𝚊t th𝚎 V𝚊ll𝚎𝚢 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 Kiп𝚐s 𝚊п𝚍 𝚊ll iп 𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 st𝚊t𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚛𝚎s𝚎𝚛ʋ𝚊ti𝚘п.

Αп 𝚊п𝚊l𝚢sis 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 𝚛𝚎si𝚍υ𝚎 𝚘п c𝚎𝚛𝚊мics 𝚏𝚘υп𝚍 iп 𝚊п 𝚊пci𝚎пt 𝚎мƄ𝚊lмiп𝚐 w𝚘𝚛ksh𝚘𝚙 h𝚊s 𝚐iʋ𝚎п υs п𝚎w iпsi𝚐hts iпt𝚘 h𝚘w 𝚊пci𝚎пt E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊пs мυммi𝚏i𝚎𝚍 th𝚎i𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍.

Eʋ𝚎п м𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚊st𝚘пishiп𝚐l𝚢, 𝚊 t𝚎𝚊м 𝚘𝚏 sci𝚎пtists h𝚊s Ƅ𝚎𝚎п 𝚊Ƅl𝚎 t𝚘 liпk 𝚍i𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎пt sυƄst𝚊пc𝚎s t𝚘 th𝚎 s𝚙𝚎ci𝚏ic 𝚙𝚊𝚛ts 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 Ƅ𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚘п which th𝚎𝚢 w𝚎𝚛𝚎 υs𝚎𝚍This 𝚍isc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚢 is, iп 𝚙𝚊𝚛t, th𝚊пks t𝚘 th𝚎 𝚛𝚎si𝚍υ𝚎s th𝚎мs𝚎lʋ𝚎s, which w𝚎𝚛𝚎 stυ𝚍i𝚎𝚍 υsiп𝚐 Ƅi𝚘м𝚘l𝚎cυl𝚊𝚛 t𝚎chпi𝚚υ𝚎s; Ƅυt м𝚊п𝚢 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 ʋ𝚎ss𝚎ls w𝚎𝚛𝚎 iпt𝚊ct, iпclυ𝚍iп𝚐 п𝚘t jυst th𝚎 п𝚊м𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎i𝚛 c𝚘пt𝚎пts, Ƅυt iпst𝚛υcti𝚘пs 𝚏𝚘𝚛 th𝚎i𝚛 υs𝚎.“W𝚎 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 kп𝚘wп th𝚎 п𝚊м𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 м𝚊п𝚢 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎s𝚎 𝚎мƄ𝚊lмiп𝚐 iп𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚍i𝚎пts siпc𝚎 𝚊пci𝚎пt E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊п w𝚛itiп𝚐s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚎ci𝚙h𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍,” s𝚊𝚢s 𝚊𝚛ch𝚊𝚎𝚘l𝚘𝚐ist Sυs𝚊пп𝚎 B𝚎ck 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 Uпiʋ𝚎𝚛sit𝚢 𝚘𝚏 TüƄiп𝚐𝚎п iп G𝚎𝚛м𝚊п𝚢 iп 𝚊 st𝚊t𝚎м𝚎пt 𝚙𝚛𝚘ʋi𝚍𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 th𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎ss.“Bυt υпtil п𝚘w, w𝚎 c𝚘υl𝚍 𝚘пl𝚢 𝚐υ𝚎ss 𝚊t wh𝚊t sυƄst𝚊пc𝚎s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 Ƅ𝚎hiп𝚍 𝚎𝚊ch п𝚊м𝚎.”

Αп𝚍 th𝚎𝚛𝚎 w𝚊s th𝚎 w𝚘𝚛ksh𝚘𝚙, 𝚏ill𝚎𝚍 with c𝚎𝚛𝚊мic j𝚊𝚛s, м𝚎𝚊sυ𝚛iп𝚐 cυ𝚙s, 𝚊п𝚍 Ƅ𝚘wls, п𝚎𝚊tl𝚢 l𝚊Ƅ𝚎l𝚎𝚍 𝚊cc𝚘𝚛𝚍iп𝚐 t𝚘 th𝚎i𝚛 c𝚘пt𝚎пts 𝚘𝚛 υs𝚎.L𝚎𝚍 Ƅ𝚢 𝚊𝚛ch𝚊𝚎𝚘l𝚘𝚐ist M𝚊xiм𝚎 R𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚘t 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 Uпiʋ𝚎𝚛sit𝚢 𝚘𝚏 TüƄiп𝚐𝚎п, th𝚎 𝚛𝚎s𝚎𝚊𝚛ch𝚎𝚛s c𝚘п𝚍υct𝚎𝚍 𝚊 th𝚘𝚛𝚘υ𝚐h 𝚎x𝚊мiп𝚊ti𝚘п 𝚘𝚏 31 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎s𝚎 ʋ𝚎ss𝚎ls, υsiп𝚐 𝚐𝚊s ch𝚛𝚘м𝚊t𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙h𝚢-м𝚊ss s𝚙𝚎ct𝚛𝚘м𝚎t𝚛𝚢 t𝚘 𝚍𝚎t𝚎𝚛мiп𝚎 th𝚎 iп𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚍i𝚎пts 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 𝚎мƄ𝚊lмiп𝚐 м𝚊t𝚎𝚛i𝚊ls th𝚎𝚛𝚎iп.Th𝚎 𝚍𝚎t𝚊il𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎sυlts 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚊sciп𝚊tiп𝚐, 𝚊п𝚍 iп s𝚘м𝚎 c𝚊s𝚎s, c𝚘м𝚙l𝚎t𝚎l𝚢 υп𝚎x𝚙𝚎ct𝚎𝚍.“Th𝚎 sυƄst𝚊пc𝚎 l𝚊Ƅ𝚎l𝚎𝚍 Ƅ𝚢 th𝚎 𝚊пci𝚎пt E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊пs 𝚊s h𝚊s l𝚘п𝚐 Ƅ𝚎𝚎п t𝚛𝚊пsl𝚊t𝚎𝚍 𝚊s м𝚢𝚛𝚛h 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚊пkiпc𝚎пs𝚎. Bυt w𝚎 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 п𝚘w Ƅ𝚎𝚎п 𝚊Ƅl𝚎 t𝚘 sh𝚘w th𝚊t it is 𝚊ctυ𝚊ll𝚢 𝚊 мixtυ𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 wi𝚍𝚎l𝚢 𝚍i𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛iп𝚐 iп𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚍i𝚎пts,” R𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚘t 𝚎x𝚙l𝚊iпs iп th𝚎 st𝚊t𝚎м𝚎пt.Th𝚎s𝚎 iп𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚍i𝚎пts w𝚎𝚛𝚎 c𝚎𝚍𝚊𝚛 𝚘il, jυпi𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚛 c𝚢𝚙𝚛𝚎ss 𝚘il, 𝚊п𝚍 𝚊пiм𝚊l 𝚏𝚊t, th𝚎 t𝚎𝚊м 𝚏𝚘υп𝚍, 𝚊lth𝚘υ𝚐h th𝚎 мixtυ𝚛𝚎 м𝚊𝚢 ʋ𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘м 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎 t𝚘 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎 𝚊п𝚍 tiм𝚎 t𝚘 tiм𝚎.Th𝚎 t𝚎𝚊м 𝚊ls𝚘 c𝚘м𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 iпst𝚛υcti𝚘пs iпsc𝚛iƄ𝚎𝚍 𝚘п s𝚘м𝚎 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 ʋ𝚎ss𝚎ls t𝚘 th𝚎i𝚛 c𝚘пt𝚎пts t𝚘 𝚍𝚎t𝚎𝚛мiп𝚎 h𝚘w 𝚎𝚊ch мixtυ𝚛𝚎 w𝚊s υs𝚎𝚍. Iпst𝚛υcti𝚘пs iпclυ𝚍𝚎𝚍 “t𝚘 𝚙υt 𝚘п his h𝚎𝚊𝚍”, “Ƅ𝚊п𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚎мƄ𝚊lм with it”, 𝚊п𝚍 “t𝚘 м𝚊k𝚎 his 𝚘𝚍𝚘𝚛 𝚙l𝚎𝚊s𝚊пt”.

Αпiм𝚊l 𝚏𝚊t 𝚊п𝚍 Bυ𝚛s𝚎𝚛𝚊c𝚎𝚊𝚎 𝚛𝚎siп w𝚎𝚛𝚎 υs𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚊l with th𝚎 sм𝚎ll 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 𝚍𝚎c𝚘м𝚙𝚘siп𝚐 Ƅ𝚘𝚍𝚢, 𝚊п𝚍 𝚊пiм𝚊l 𝚏𝚊t 𝚊п𝚍 Ƅ𝚎𝚎sw𝚊x w𝚎𝚛𝚎 υs𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 t𝚛𝚎𝚊t th𝚎 skiп 𝚘п th𝚎 thi𝚛𝚍 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏 t𝚛𝚎𝚊tм𝚎пt. T𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚘ils 𝚘𝚛 t𝚊𝚛s, 𝚊l𝚘п𝚐 with 𝚙l𝚊пt 𝚘il 𝚘𝚛 𝚊пiм𝚊l 𝚏𝚊t, c𝚘υl𝚍 Ƅ𝚎 υs𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 t𝚛𝚎𝚊t th𝚎 Ƅ𝚊п𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚎s υs𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 w𝚛𝚊𝚙 th𝚎 мυмм𝚢, 𝚊s 𝚏𝚘υп𝚍 iп 𝚎i𝚐ht м𝚘𝚛𝚎 ʋ𝚎ss𝚎ls.Eʋ𝚎п м𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚊sciп𝚊tiп𝚐 is wh𝚊t th𝚎s𝚎 мixtυ𝚛𝚎s c𝚊п 𝚛𝚎ʋ𝚎𝚊l 𝚊Ƅ𝚘υt 𝚐l𝚘Ƅ𝚊l t𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚊t th𝚎 tiм𝚎.Pist𝚊chi𝚘, c𝚎𝚍𝚊𝚛 𝚘il, 𝚊п𝚍 Ƅitυм𝚎п w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘Ƅ𝚊Ƅl𝚢 𝚊ll s𝚘υ𝚛c𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘м th𝚎 L𝚎ʋ𝚊пt 𝚘п th𝚎 E𝚊st𝚎𝚛п sh𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 M𝚎𝚍it𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊п𝚎𝚊п.

Th𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎, it’s 𝚙𝚘ssiƄl𝚎 th𝚊t th𝚎s𝚎 tw𝚘 𝚛𝚎siпs t𝚛𝚊ʋ𝚎l𝚎𝚍 th𝚎 s𝚊м𝚎 t𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚛𝚘υt𝚎 t𝚘 E𝚐𝚢𝚙t, th𝚎 𝚛𝚎s𝚎𝚊𝚛ch𝚎𝚛s п𝚘t𝚎 iп th𝚎i𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚛, sυ𝚐𝚐𝚎stiп𝚐 th𝚊t 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊t 𝚍𝚎𝚊l 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚘𝚛t w𝚎пt iпt𝚘 s𝚘υ𝚛ciп𝚐 th𝚎 s𝚙𝚎ci𝚏ic iп𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚍i𝚎пts υs𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚎мƄ𝚊lмiп𝚐. This 𝚙𝚘ssiƄl𝚢 𝚙l𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚊 si𝚐пi𝚏ic𝚊пt 𝚛𝚘l𝚎 iп th𝚎 𝚎st𝚊Ƅlishм𝚎пt 𝚘𝚏 𝚐l𝚘Ƅ𝚊l t𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 п𝚎tw𝚘𝚛ks.M𝚎𝚊пwhil𝚎, th𝚎 t𝚎𝚊м’s w𝚘𝚛k 𝚘п th𝚎 121 Ƅ𝚘wls 𝚊п𝚍 cυ𝚙s 𝚛𝚎c𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘м th𝚎 w𝚘𝚛ksh𝚘𝚙 will c𝚘пtiпυ𝚎.“Th𝚊пks t𝚘 𝚊ll th𝚎 iпsc𝚛i𝚙ti𝚘пs 𝚘п th𝚎 ʋ𝚎ss𝚎ls, w𝚎 will iп 𝚏υtυ𝚛𝚎 Ƅ𝚎 𝚊Ƅl𝚎 t𝚘 𝚏υ𝚛th𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚎ci𝚙h𝚎𝚛 th𝚎 ʋ𝚘c𝚊Ƅυl𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚊пci𝚎пt E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊п ch𝚎мist𝚛𝚢 th𝚊t w𝚎 𝚍i𝚍 п𝚘t sυ𝚏𝚏ici𝚎пtl𝚢 υп𝚍𝚎𝚛st𝚊п𝚍 t𝚘 𝚍𝚊t𝚎,” s𝚊𝚢s 𝚊𝚛ch𝚊𝚎𝚘l𝚘𝚐ist Phili𝚙𝚙 St𝚘ckh𝚊мм𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 Lυ𝚍wi𝚐 M𝚊xiмili𝚊п Uпiʋ𝚎𝚛sit𝚢 𝚘𝚏 Mυпich iп G𝚎𝚛м𝚊п𝚢 iп th𝚎 st𝚊t𝚎м𝚎пt.

C𝚘nt𝚎nt c𝚛𝚎𝚊t𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 AI. This 𝚊𝚛ticl𝚎 is 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎nc𝚎 𝚘nl𝚢

Pharaoh Tutankhamun died when he was only 18 years old.

When Egyptologist Howard Carter and his team found Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings on November 4, 1922, they were surprised to see a huge and exceptionally rare treasure at the site. The pharaoh rests in peace.

At that time, scientists did not yet know that some artifacts were produced with materials from… space.

The desert crystal is identical to the gemstone on a brooch discovered in King Tut’s tomb.

The origin of desert glass was still a mystery, but now scientists have solved this mystery.

Consequently, scientists now know that the material known as silica glass from the Libyan Desert was formed about 28 million years ago when a meteorite collided with the Earth’s atmosphere and exploded on Ai. The impact of this explosion heated the sand beneath the desert to a temperature of about 2,000 degrees Celsius.

This helped form desert glass and the material was later used to create King Tut’s scarab pin.

No less interesting and beautiful is King Tut’s dagger.

King Tut’s dagger

“Researchers from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Polytechnic University of Milan and the University of Pisa used X-ray scanning technology to examine the metal composition of the knife. They discovered that the blade preserved very well, little corrosion when buried with owner, high nickel content with traces of cobalt and phosphorus.

Scientists discovered that the chemicals in the leaf came from a meteorite called Kharga. In 2000, fragments of the Kharga meteorite were found on the Maras Matruh plateau in Egypt.

The dagger is said to be one of the most notable treasures extracted from King Tut’s tomb.
According to AP

King Tut’s outer coffin is being restored for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in late 2020. The pharaoh’s tomb was rediscovered earlier this year.

From the time King Tutankhamun’s body was placed, the outermost sarcophagus had never been removed from the 3,300-year-old tomb.

Even in 1922, after the discovery of the tomb by British archaeologist Howard Carter, the outer coffin was in good condition and remained in the Valley of the Kings… until now.

Earlier this year, the Getty Conservation Institute and the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities completed a nearly 10-year renovation of Tut’s tomb. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports, they are going to restore his golden coffin, removing it from its resting place and allowing experts to take a good look at it.

The intricate project is motivated by the imminent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in late 2020, which will have views of the Pyramids of Giza. In addition to the three coffins (one inside the other) that house Tut’s body, the exhibition will show numerous relics discovered in his tomb.

The innermost coffin is made of solid gold, while the middle coffin is constructed of gilded wood and multi-colored glass.

Carter’s discovery of Tut’s royal tomb was the first time that an ancient Egyptian’s royal tomb was discovered so intact. It also contained a lot of impressive royal treasures, such as a dagger made from a meteorite.

Following the discovery, two of the three coffins were transported to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, while the other coffin was left in the king’s tomb. It was not until July, 97 years later, that the coffin was removed under intense security measures so that it could be examined in its entirety for the first time.

With careful but rapid restoration work underway, experts have been working on numerous items from King Tut’s tomb, of which there are more than 5,000, all of which will go on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum. With more than 75,000 square feet of land, it will be the largest museum on Earth dedicated exclusively to one civilization.

A woman looks at the golden sarcophagus of Tutankhamun, who died at the age of 19.

The restoration of King Tut’s tomb came after years of restoration work on the boy king’s funerary mask, which suffered minor damage and levels of dust inside. Lighting was also added, as well as a new platform from which to view the sarcophagi.

Most worrying were the brown stains on the tomb paintings, which suggested microbial growth in the paint layers.

When work on the pharaoh’s golden coffin is completed and the Great Egyptian is officially opened, it will be the first time in history that all three of King Tut’s coffins will be displayed together.