Tomb of unknown pharaoh unveils new mystery in Abydos
Archaeologists from Egypt and the USA have discovered a tomb of an unknown pharaoh from 3,600 years ago in the ancient city of Abydos. This significant find, despite the absence of remains and furnishings, adds a new chapter to Egypt's rich history, reports the "New York Times."
In Abydos, on the site of an ancient cemetery known as the Mountain of Anubis, archaeologists from Egypt and the United States made an extraordinary discovery. A tomb of an unknown pharaoh dating back approximately 3,600 years was found there. Although no remains or furnishings were found in the tomb, researchers emphasize that the discovery is of great importance to the history of Abydos.
The tomb was looted, and inscriptions were erased
The tomb features a decorated entrance and several chambers. The limestone burial chamber, nearly 5 metres high, is topped with a vault made of dried bricks. This discovery is larger than the previous tomb of Pharaoh Woseribre Seneb Kay, discovered in 2014 at the same archaeological site.
Dr. Josef Wegner from the University of Pennsylvania, leading the American part of the team, emphasized that "this tomb and Seneb-Kay’s tomb are the earliest surviving royal tombs that actually have painted decorations inside." The paintings depict the goddesses Isis and Nephthys.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery in mid-March, but the "NYT" described new details of the find. Dr. Wegner noted that the tomb was looted in antiquity, and inscriptions that could identify the buried person were erased.
Matthew Adams, another archaeologist, added that the rulers of Abydos likely controlled only the surrounding areas of the city, but the monumental nature of the tomb and their self-titling as "kings" indicates their broader aspirations.
In February, Egyptian authorities announced the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II near the Valley of the Kings. This was the first such find since 1922, when the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered. These discoveries shed new light on the history of ancient Egypt and its rulers.
