WHO or what was in the very mysterious and very large sarcophagus found in Alexandria three weeks ago? Social media has gone crazy with speculation it might contain the remains of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra or even an ancient astronaut.
So Egyptian archaeologists were under tremendous pressure today (the eve of the 20th July 356 BC BIRTHDAY OF ALEXANDER) when they opened the 3-meter-long sarcophagus.
What they found were the skeletal remains of three Ptolemaic soldiers ... floating in raw sewage. (SEE PHOTOS BELOW)
Shaban Abd Monem, specialist in mummies at the Ministry said, "Preliminary examination suggests the skeletons belong to three army officers, one of them his skull shows an injury of an arrow."
The skeletons will be taken to the storerooms of Alexandria National Museum for further studies and dating. As for the sarcophagus, after initial restoration, it will be moved to the storerooms.
The massive stone casket was buried more than 16 feet beneath the surface alongside a huge alabaster head ... likely belonging to the man who owned the tomb.
Experts say the ancient coffin had remained untouched since its burial thousands of years ago during the Ptolemaic period.
The team was inspecting a resident's land ahead of digs planned for the foundation of his building at Al-Karmili Street when they stumbled upon the remarkable Ptolemaic burial 5 meters deep.
The Ptolemaic period lasted roughly 300 years, from 332-30 BC, making this particular site more than 2,000 years old.
According to the archaeologists who led the dig, the black granite sarcophagus stands at 185 centimeters tall (6 feet), 265 cm long (8.6 ft), and 165 cm wide (5.4 ft).
A layer of mortar identified between the lid and body of the stone coffin indicates it has not been opened since it was sealed off, says Dr. Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector.
The team unearthed the ruins of a huge Roman bath at the San El-Hagar archaeological site.
Alongside the 52-foot-long red brick structure, archaeologists also found pottery vessels, terracotta statues, bronze tools, a chunk of engraved stone, and a statue of a ram.
The most remarkable artifact, however, is among the smallest.
A gold coin depicting the face of King Ptolemy III, a 3rd Century BC ruler said to be an ancestor of Cleopatra, was also discovered at the site.
Disappointing but expected. Doubt soldiers were original occupants. Thanks for update.
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