Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 3,000 year old site in Nubia that dates to an ancient 'Dark Age' - a time when the Egyptian Empire had collapsed and civilizations around the Mediterranean had been conquered by a group called the 'Sea People'.
The settlement was found in the lowest layers of Qasr Ibrim, a site well known for its medieval era remains. Today what's left of Qasr Ibrim is an island on Lake Nasser - a man-made lake created when the Aswan Dam was built in the 1960’s.
Dr Zahi Hawass takes us down into the basement of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. He explains that when he was younger, he was part of a team which made a discovery in Kom Abu Bellou, and it was upon finding a statue of Aphrodite where Dr Hawass realised his love for Archaeology. But on returning the artefacts to the Cairo Museum, they were simply stored in the basement and forgotten by previous directors. Dr Hawass explains that this is why he is working to open up the basement of Cairo Museum and share its treasures that have been stored away for a long time.
The Antechamber of the Tomb of Seti I (KV17) is a small room which precedes the burial chamber, and features on its tomb walls scenes depicted from the Book of the Dead. The renown photographer in the field of Egyptology, Sandro Vannini took several photographs throughout KV17, including the First Pillared Room which we featured recently. This week we look at the tomb engravings of the Antechamber, and who they depict.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Mon, 07/13/2009 - 13:12
Us in the 'modern world' tend to think we've got the market cornered for most things, and partying is no different. Clubs, drugs, drink and casual sex may be frowned upon even by our elders at times, but it seems those in the ancient world had rather less stringent morals when it came to partying hard. And new research suggests the neon-lit acid haze of the eighties was far from the first movement to find a love for rave culture. It seems that rolling stones had barely been invented before the ancient world was partying like Keith Richards on closing night.
This statue originates from a temple created by Amenhotep I in honour of the goddess Hathor, a revered figure in nearby Deir el-Bahari. Carved from limestone, the statue depicts Amenhotep I in the form of Osiris, Hathor's son. This large statue measures 269cm in height and was likely placed at the entrance of the temple before being relocated to the site of Mentuhotep's temple.
Known for several years as the statue of the "White Queen," this bust has since been identified as portraying Queen Merit-Amon, the daughter of Ramesses II. Merit-Amon's youthful appearance and benevolent smile define her well-carved visage. She adorns a tripartite wig topped with a double uraei. In her left hand, she clutches a "menat" necklace across her right breast, signifying that she was a priestess under the cult of Hathor.
The double statue of Nimaatsed is one of several examples of so-called "pseudo-group" group statues. These statues portrayed the same individual multiple times, usually at different ages in their life. The double statue of Nimaatsed, for instance, portrayed Nimaatsed at two different heights. It is thought that pseudo-group statues enabled the subject to view his self in two different lights.
"Pseudo-group" statues may also depict the figure of the deceased with his guardian "Ka" spirit. Indeed, the double state of Nimaatsed was associated with the cult of Re and Hathor.
This sculpture depicts Hathor, the cow goddess of joy and life, protecting Pharaoh Psammetik; Psammetik is represented in miniature underneath the head of Hathor. Carved in stunning detail, Psammetik wears a wig and a kilt inscribed with his name and tiles. Hathor adorns a disk crown with two feathers and a uraeus. Inscriptions mark the base of the exquisitely polished statue.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 3,000 year old site in Nubia that dates to an ancient 'Dark Age' - a time when the Egyptian Empire had collapsed and civilizations around the Mediterranean had been conquered by a group called the 'Sea People'.
The Antechamber of the 
