EGYPTOLOGISTS FIND 16 MORE TOMBS ACROSS THE NILE FROM ANTINOOPOLIS

EGYPTIAN archaeologists have discovered another 16 tombs at a large mummy cache across the Nile River from Antinoopolis.

This is the latest big discovery at the ancient necropolis at Tuna el-Gebel near Hermopolis on the west bank of the Nile following two years of similar discoveries of dozens of stone sarcophagi.

In January 2018, officials announced the discovery of the mummy of a priest of Thoth, 1,000 small statues and a necklace charm bearing the hieroglyphic inscription “happy new year” in hieroglyphs.

Then in January 2019 another 40 mummies plus ornate embroidered Roman/Byzantine wrappings and pottery were discovered at the site immediately across the Nile from Antinoopolis.

Now, as reporters looked on, Antiquities minister Mostafa Waziri announced the newest discovery near Tuna al-Gebal, at Hermopolis on the opposite side of the Nile from the sacred city of Antinous.


Among the new treasures presented: 20 sarcophagi made from limestone and etched with hieroglyphic texts, five wooden coffins, hundreds of amulets and 10,000 blue funerary statues, known as ushabti figurines, which are fixtures in the ancient tombs of the area. The sarcophagus lids are molded into mummy-like figures of men.

Waziri said the tombs likely belonged to the high priests of Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of writing and wisdom, among other senior officials.

Hermopolis, sacred city of Thoth/Hermes, was the last city in Egypt that Antinous visited before his tragic death in October 130 AD. It is the site of many tombs and catacombs.

As background, Dr.Wagdi Ramadan, head of the mission, pointed out that the mission started its work for the first time in Tuna El-Gebel in February 2018 when it DISCOVERED A VAST TOMB comprising a corridor leading to sloping stairs that opened to a rectangular chamber with a number of burials. 

Waziri explained that ostraca and fragments of papyri were unearthed in the grave which its studies helped in revealing the date of the grave that could go back to the Ptolemaic, the early Roman and Byzantine periods.

The cache pit, which is more than 2,000 years old, is expected to take another five years to excavate. “It´s only the beginning,” said Enany. “We are very soon going to add a new archaeological attraction to Middle Egypt.

The spectacular priestly mummy discovered in 2018 bore inscriptions identifying it as the body of Djehuty-Irdy-Es, a high priest of Thoth. Hermes/Thoth is the chief deity at Hermopolis, where the mummy was found.

The mummy wears a bronze collar that depicts the goddess Nut.

The mummy case is decorated with blue and red beads as well as a gilded bronze cover, two eyes carved in bronze and ornamented with ivory and crystal beads.

“The goddess Nut is seen stretching her wings to protect the deceased, in accordance with ancient Egyptian belief,” Waziri said. Four amulets of semi-precious stones were also found, decorated with engraved hieroglyphic texts. One says, “Happy New Year.”

Waziri added that four canopic jars made of alabaster with lids that have the faces of the four sons of the god Horus were also unearthed on Saturday.

“They are in a very good state of conservation. They still contain the mummified inner organs of the deceased. The jars are decorated with hieroglyphic texts showing the name and titles of their owner,” Wazizi said.