4.1.2015 The discovery of the tomb of an unknown queen in Egypt
Categories: Calendar , Nálezy nejenom s detektorem na blízkém východě
Czech archaeologists have already become famous several times thanks to their discoveries in Egypt. Six years ago, for example, they found the tomb of a previously unknown queen Hentkaus III, who was the wife of the pharaoh Ranepheres.
The Czech team found the precious tomb in the archaeological site of Abusir in the southwesternCairo, where there are several pyramids dedicated to pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty.
The tomb is about 4500 years old. The name of Ranepherem's wife has not been known until now. Archaeologists first actually discovered it after the tomb was discovered. The queen's name and position were inscribed on the tomb's inner walls. "This was probably done directly by the builders," noted Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty.
"This discovery will help us shed light on certain unknown aspects of the Fifth Dynasty, which along with the Fourth Dynasty witnessed the construction of the first pyramids," al-Damaty added.
Miroslav Bárta, who led the Czech Institute of Egyptology mission, said the tomb was found in the Neferefra burial complex. "This leads us to believe that the queen was his wife," Bárta said.
The tomb dates from the Fifth Dynasty (2994 to 2345 BC). Archaeologists also found about 30 vessels, 24 made of limestone and four of copper, the official statement said.
The tomb of the royal physician
Another great discovery was made by Czech archaeologists in 2013, when they found the tomb of a royal physician in Abusir, which is about 4,500 years old. The tomb of the physician Shepseskafankha was made of limestone and covered an area of about 700 square metres. It contains a chapel and seven underground chambers, previously plundered. Shepseskafankh was buried with his family.
The most significant artifact found in the tomb was a huge false door inscribed with several titles held by Shepseskafankh. For example, he was also a priest in several Sun temples. Barta also revealed another interesting thing at the time. According to him, Shepseskafankh was the official physician and apothecary of the royal family.
Barta also noted that Abusir probably contains dozens of large tombs built for many high-ranking members of the Fifth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Officials of the Fourth Dynasty are buried in Giza, while officials of the Sixth Dynasty are in Saqqara.
Sources: www.theguardian.com, www.archaeology.org
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