Tag: Necropolis

Ancient Egyptian tomb of Karakhamun at Assasif: a major tomb for a minor priest?

TT223 Tomb of ancient Egyptian priest Karakhamun at Assasif Archaeologists have rediscovered the ‘lost’ tomb an ancient Egyptian priest at the Theban Necropolis in Egypt.It was announced today by Egypt’s Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosny, that the team excavating and conservating the tomb has now cleared the burial shaft of tomb and reached its burial chamber.

The tomb is located at Qurnet Murai, south Assasif, on the west bank of the Nile opposite to Luxor, and belonged to a priest named Karakhamun. It dates to the 25th Dynasty (the Reign of Shabaqo, circa 700BC) and is referenced as TT223 (Theban Tomb 223). The el-Assasif area is a well known archaeological site, containing nobles tombs from the New Kingdom, as well as the 25-26th Dynasties.

Dr Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said that the team discovered the burial chamber of Karakhamun at the bottom of an 8m deep burial shaft. He added it is in very good condition and contains beautifully painted scenes.

The entrance to the chamber is decorated with an image of Karakhamun and the ceiling is decorated with several astrological scenes, including a depiction of the sky goddess, Nut.

Ancient Egyptian Priest Karkhamun

Not much is known about Karakhamun. There is no information about his family, and he himself did not seem to have any important administrative positions. His priestly title, First ‘k Priest, does not signify any particular importance.

Yet Karkhamun’s tomb consists of two spacious pillared halls and a five-room burial chamber, and isthe largest tomb excavated at the South Assasif Necropolis so far. This suggests he had close connections to the royal court or family.

As we know only little about his life, the tomb’s dating to the 25th Dynasty or Nubian dynasty, when Egypt ‘s rulers originated from the Kingdom of Kush is based largely on the priest’s Nubian name.

The tomb’s architectural features as far as they are known also confirm this date. Karkhamun’s serpentine shabti is of a Nubian type with facialeatures that suggest a pre-Taharqo date, probably Shabaqo, writes the South Asasif Conservation Project (ACP) on its website.

TT223 Discovered Thrice

After its initial discovery in the 1820s by Wilkinson, Hey and Burton and again in the 1940s by Lepsius the tomb of priest Karkhamun at Assasif was left open and unprotected. It was photographed in the 1970s by Eigner. Some time after Eigner’s visit,its ceiling collapsed and the tomb became buried once more by the sand.

It was considered ‘lost’ until in 2001 archaeologists started exavating what was a mere crack in the sand,and foundwall carvings with a life-size figure of Karkhamun in front of an offering table.

In 2006, an Egyptian-American team lead by Dr. Elena Pischikova started carrying out conservation works at the tomb as part of the ACP.

Because of the exceptional preservation of colour of the wall paintings, and the quality of the scenes, Dr Pischikova believes the tomb of Karakhamun could be one of the most beautiful tombs from Dynasty 25.

Marina El-Alamein Archaeological Site Opens for Visits mid-September

Roman Tombs at the Marina el-Alamain archaeological site - soon open to the public. - Image courtesy the SCA Following years of restoration and development, the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast will open to tourists mid-September.

The Marina el-Alamein archaeological site a Hellenistic-Roman town is locatedabout 5km east of el-Alamein.

The ancient city was accidentally discovered in 1986, when construction started on the Marina El-Alamein resort. The archaeological area spans a section that is more than 1km long and about 0.5km wide and is the largest archaeological site on Egypt’s north coast.

Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, announced that the site will be opened to tourists mid-September complete with a high-tech lighting system throughout the entire site, which will permit visitors to enjoy el-Alamein day and night.

In a bid to encourage local tourism, the entrance fee for the site will be 5LE for Egyptians and 2,50LE for Egyptian students.

It got this name because of the softness and the white colour of its sand

The ancient town of el-Alamein had a harbour with commercial quarter and south of that, the city centre which included baths, markets and a civic basilica.

Over the last ten years, the Polish Archaeological Institute in Cairo and the American Research Center in Egypt have unearthed remains of more than 50 different structures in the town and necropolis.

The earliest archaeological remains dated to the mid 2nd century BC were found in the town’s necropolis. It is thought the town was occupied until the 7th century AD.

Dr Zahi Hawass, antiquities tsar, said that the site of el-Alamein was the an important and well-known port during Egypt’s Hellenistic-Roman era.

He also pointed out that it is the first archaeological site on the Mediterranean coast to be developed as a tourist friendly site.

The Graeco-Roman name for el-Alamein was ‘Locassis’, which means ‘the white shell’. It got this name because of the softness and the white colour of its sand, explains Dr Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud.

The goddess of love, Aphrodite, was worshipped there and the statues found of her on the site show her emerging from a white shell, in reference to its name.

Who Nose What Happened to the Great Sphinx of Giza?

The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the world’s largest and oldest monuments, and isn’t without its mystery. Theories fly around regularly about whether there are secret tunnels or hidden halls under the Sphinx, which Dr Zahi Hawass, currently starring in the ‘Chasing Mummies‘ series, insists is not the case in this Heritage Key video (Watch the Video). But my question is much more simple – Whatever happened to the nose of the Great Sphinx?

In a previous Heritage Key article, “Riddle of the Sphinx”, Robert Cook wrote about the legend that Napoleon’s troops used the Sphinx’s nose as target practice during the French invasion of Egypt in 1798. But did they really have such a disregard for thousands of years of history that they purposefully destroyed the nose of the Great Sphinx?

It’s a bit of a confusing mystery, mainly because of the poetic license employed by some of those who knew how to draw back in the 18th century. It wasn’t so much a case of there being a nose or not, but that the artists felt the Sphinx would be much more attractive and exotic to those viewing the works back in Europe if the monument didn’t have a ruined nose. After all, there’s not a demand for cats with missing noses in Battersea animal shelter.

Click images for a larger version

In 1743, British traveller and writer Richard Pococke published an account of visiting the Great Sphinx of Giza, and his bookincluded a sketch of the monument with it appearing to show the nose intact. Pococke visited Egypt six years prior to publication, so his actual visit was in 1737. However, on a later visit in a book published in 1767, Pococke remarks that when “you arrive at the Sphinx [sic], whole enormous bulk attracts your admiration: but it is scarce possible to avoid feeling some indignation at those who have strangely disfigured its nose.”

An interesting statement from Richard Pococke, as it suggests that the lack of nose on the Sphinx may not actually have been as a result of thousands of years of erosion, but was ruined in a purposeful or accidental action. The previous sketch from 1737, assuming Pococke didn’t employ poetic license in the creation of it, would provide a date when the nose was still intact. Indeed, a prior sketch from Cornelis de Brujin in 1698 (Reizen van Cornelis de Bruyn door de vermaardste Deelen van Klein Asia, 1698) also showed the Great Sphinx of Egypt complete with a slightly odd looking nose. Perhaps if the original nose actually looked like the sketch by Cornelis de Brujin, that was reason enough to blast it off? Or maybe the sketch is just a dodgy scan..

Regardless, sketches drawn in 1755 by Frederic Louis Norden in‘Voyage d’gypte et de Nubie” (1755)of the Great Sphinx quite clearly show the nose is not there. It seems pretty unlikely to me that Norden would use poetic license to remove the nose from his sketches (unless he was into that sort of thing) so it’s reasonable to conclude that by this time, the nose was already missing for whatever reason. What it does prove is that Napoleon and his troops didn’t shoot off the nose of the Great Sphinx, as they didn’t launch an invasion of Egypt for another 40 years.

So that leaves a period of some 18 years (again assuming that everybody was sketching it accurately) when the nose was removed, and if you want to believe in Pococke’s account, destroyed by man. During the first half of the 18th Century, Egypt was in the midst of a power struggle between the Ottomans and the Mamluks, so perhaps this could be related to the missing nose of the Great Sphinx?Or maybe you have a better explanation?Feel free to leave a comment below!

HD Video: Drilling under the Sphinx (Featuring Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Mark Lehner)

(Read the transcript of this video)

You can check out more fascinating videos from Heritage Key from Dr Zahi Hawass including his hunt to find KV64 in the Valley of the Kings (Watch the Video), and about discoveries being made in the River Nile(Watch the Video). You can also visit the Valley of the Kings online through Heritage Key Virtual – simply register for a free account, download our viewer and log on to discover the Wonders of the Ancient World online.

Satellite Image: The Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza at the Giza Plateau, Egypt, are one of the most famous sights in the world. It’s probably photographed from every possible angle from the ground, but often do you see it from above?Sure, Google Earth might give you an insight into aerial photography, but GeoEye has kindly given Heritage Key amazing satellite imagery at a high resolution, allowing us to see the pyramids as if we were in the space shuttle (or an alien space craft).

Giza is, of course, home to the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza. Towering at 138.8 metres, it is the only remaining Wonder of the World of the original seven. The map also shows just how close the Giza Necropolis is to the city of Cairo, the most populous city in Africa. It also puts to the bed the popular myth that the famous Pyramids are in some remote desert location, when we can clearly see that nearby lucky neighbours are waking up to this magnificent sight! And you might also consider playing golf if you can get a tee time in the shadows of the pyramids.

So what can you spot in the above image?The following famous landmarks are all in there:

The Great Pyramid of Giza – Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, this world famous landmark is one of the oldest structures in history, yet its powerful presence is only enhanced by the mystery surrounding who built them (the answer to which Dr Mark Lehner is searching for in this fantastic video) and how it was built, with theories ranging from a structural basis to all sorts of wacky theories being put out there!

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The Great Sphinx of Giza – The reclining lion with a human head is also one of the most recognisable remnants of our ancient past, yet most of the most questioned too. The questions hanging over who built it, when it was built and who the famous face was modelled on are much debated, leading to what is know as The Riddle of the Sphinx. It was also feared that this famous cat might get its paws wet, and so drilling commenced under the Great Sphinx, as can be seen in this video with Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Mark Lehner.

New Satellite Images Coming Each Week

This post is the first in a weekly series that will be showcasing high resolution satellite photography of Ancient World sites from across the globe, courtesy of GeoEye! Be sure to check back each week to see which Heritage site we cover next.

The Pyramid of Khafre – The second biggest pyramid at the Giza Necropolis is named after Pharoah Khafra, and often misleads as being the largest of the three pyramids. This is because the Pyramid of Khafre sits on a bedrock which is 10m higher than the Great Pyramid, giving the impression that it is a taller pyramid.

The Pyramid of Menkaure – The smallest of the three pyramids, the Pyramid of Mankaure stands at 61 metres tall and was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Menkaure. A large hole can be seen on the northern face in the aerial view of the pyramid – a reminder from where early explorers entered into it. Adjacent to the Pyramid of Mankaure are three smaller pyramids – The Pyramids of the Queens. Archaeologists do not know for certain who the three queens were that these pyramids were built for, though one of them is thought to be one of Menkaure’s main consorts -Khamerernebti II.

So those are the famous highlights which you may be able to pick out from the aerial image, but for the more hardcore Egyptophile, can you tell your Eastern Cemetery from your Western Cemetery?Do you know your tomb of Queen Khentkawes from the tombs of Queen Hetepheres, and where is the Office of Pyramid Studies? And have you spotted the Builder’s Quarters, or did you find the Boat Pits? Where did Obama’s helicopter land when he was visiting the pyramids(watch the video)? Can you find the Tomb of Hemon is amongst all the Mastabas and rock cut tombs, and can you pick out the Funerary Temple of Menkaure, or will you get it confused with the Valley Temple of Khafre? Or maybe you’ll confuse the Funerary Temple of Khafre with the Valley Temple of Menkaure! And can you locate the entrance to The Lost Underworld of the Pharaohs? 😉

The Satellite Image is courtesy of GeoEye.

Dr. Zahi Hawass’ Video with the Latest Discoveries from Dra Abu el-Naga

Heritage Key has posted the latest video clip from Dr. Zahi Hawass regarding current excavations at the Valley of the Kings and surrounding areas.

In New Discoveries in Drabu el Naga, Dr. Hawass brings us up to date with his excavations at this promising site on the West Bank of the Nile, close to Luxor and directly across from Karnak.There are about 80 numbered tombs at Dra Abu el-Naga, some of which are royal tombs dating from the Seventeenth Dynasty, with other New Kingdom tombs belonging to Theban priests and privileged court officials.

The site suffers from modern encroachment, with houses being built on top of some burial sites.Other sites have been looted in times both ancient and modern.But Dr. Hawass remains confident that there is still much to be discovered at Dra Abu el-Naga.

Indeed, there have been a number of exciting finds made recently at the necropolis.Dr. Jos Galn, of the National Research Center at Madrid, has had a Spanish team excavating Dra Abu el-Naga since 2002.At the end of the 2008 season his team discovered a deep shaft under the burial chamber in the tomb of Djehuty (TT11), a high official in the court of Queen Hatshepsut.At the beginning of the 2009 season Dr. Galn was able to properly survey his find and discovered a second burial chamber decorated with texts from the Book of the Dead, also called Pyramid Texts, with the goddess Nut adorning the ceiling.

It is even possible that some of the houses built over top of burial sites may have inadvertently protected the sites from spoilage.

Dr. Hawass discusses finds made by his own team, in particular three New Kingdom tombs (although one may date from the Late Period) belonging to Theban officials.The first he discusses is the tomb of Amen-Em-Opet, an official bearing the title of Supervisor of Hunters, who was previously dated to prior to the reign of Akhenaten, but in this clip Dr. Hawass speculates that he may have lived during the Amarna Period.

The jewellery discovered in Djehuty's TT11 at Dra' Abu El-Naga Although one might expect a bearskin rug and a mounted elks head over a fireplace in the tomb of the official Supervisor of Hunters, we are treated to no such fineries in this video.We are, however, shown a seal bearing Amen-Em-Opets name, and a shabti bearing the name of a usurper, “Ray-?”. Apparently the tomb was reused at least once during the Nineteenth Dynasty, or possibly during the early part of the Third Intermediate Period, and the interloper left behind one of his miniature servants.

More Heritage Key Expert Videos:

Dr Mark Lehner Searches for Information About the Pyramid Builders

Dr Hawass Tells About the New Inscribed Finds from the Valley of the Kings

Dr. Hawass goes on to give some details of two other tombs which had previously only been described as two undecorated tombs [that were] found to the north-west of Amen-Em-Opet’s.The first was the tomb of a high priest of the god Montu, but the owners name is illegible.The entrance is decorated with the death scenes, including one depiction of the priest and his wife in adoration of Montu, and another scene depicting Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys.Dr. Hawass does not think it is one of the New Kingdom tombs, but probably dates to the Late Period.It has not yet been excavated.

There are fewer details about the second tomb, but Dr. Hawass reveals its owners name to be Ankh-min, and believes that it dates to the reign of Ramesses III.It also has a death scene depicting Osiris, and like the previous tomb, has not yet been excavated.The tombs have almost certainly been looted, but so had the tomb of Djehuty, and Dr.Galn, in addition to a beautifully decorated second burial chamber, recovered two gold rings and five gold earrings.Until the tomb is fully excavated, we have no idea ofwhat waits within.

Video: The New Tombs Discovered at Dra Abu El Naga

Read the full transcript on our video page.

Dr. Hawass concludes the video clip, after the credits roll, by reasserting that there remains a possibility of finding intact tombs in Dra Abu el-Naga.It is even possible that some of the houses built over top of burial sites may have inadvertently protected the sites from spoilage.

Excavating the Tombs of the Etruscan King and Queen at Tarquinia

A new series of excavations is due to begin at the Etruscan necropolis at Tarquinia, 60km north of Rome. The site is home to Etruscan tombs dating from as early as 700 BC many of them painted with lurid frescoes depicting exotic wild animals and scenes of Etruscans dancing, fighting and making love. While the locations of over 150 painted tombs are known (not all open to the public), it is thought that there are more to be discovered. According to reports in the Italian press (such as this one from L’Espresso), the excavations will be coordinated by Anna Maria Moretti superintendent for Archaeological Heritage of Central Etruria and Maria Cataldi, director of the necropolis at Tarquinia.

The work, undertaken by a team from Turin University, will concentrate on the Doganaccia area of the necropolis , which dates from the seventh century BC. This is where two large tumuli thought to be of great importance were discovered last century. They are assumed to have been the tombs of two powerful figures and, accordingly, have been named the Tombs of the King and Queen. Work will start before the end of August and is scheduled to last one month.

Unlike many of the tombs open to the public at the necropolis, the tombs of the King and Queen pre-date the era when fresco paintings were used. Their bare walls were partially carved out of the bedrock of the necropolis and there is a small sacred area in front off the tomb of the Queen, where commemorative rituals may have been performed. The team of archaeologists will prepare the two tombs to be opened to the public some time in 2010.

Photo by Etrvsco.

18th Dynasty tomb found at Dra Abu el-Naga Necropolis

One of the Ushabti figures made of burned clay and faience. (Photo - SCA) Three new ancient egyptian tombs dating back almost 3500 years have been discovered near Luxor by an archaeological mission lead by Dr. Zahi Hawass. One of the newly discovered tombs belonged to Amun-Em-Opet, Supervisor of Hunters and dates back to shortly before King Akhenaten’s reign. Entrances to 2 undecorated tombs have been found to the north-west of Amun-Em-Opet’s. The newly discovered were unearthed at the necropolis of Dra Abu el-Naga, on Luxor’s west bank.

Amongst the items discovered in the 3 tombs:

seven funerary seals bearing the name Amenhotep-Ben-Neferm, Supervisor of the Cattle of Amun.
seals bearing the name of Eke, the Royal Messenger and Supervisor of the Palace.
fragmented remains of unidentified mummies.
a collection of ushabti figures made of burned clay and faence.

The necropolis of Dra’ Abu el-Naga’ is located on the West Bank of the Nile at Thebes, Egypt, just by the entrance of the dry bay that leads up to Deir el-Bahri, and north of the necropolis of el-Assasif. Due to its position directly opposite the Temple of Karnak – the main cult centre of Amun from the Middle Kingdom and one of Ancient Egypt’s most important temples during the New Kingdom – and helped the importance of the royal tomb complexes present, Dra Abu El-Naga necropolis became one of the most significant holy burial sites.

The SCA’s press release in English can be found on drhawass.com and more interesting information on Dra’ Abu el-Naga on the project site of the Deutsches Archaologisches Institut.