Archaeologists excavating at Ahnasia in Upper Egypt, have unearthed the remains of a 3,300-year-old temple built by pharaoh Ramesses the Great.
According to a statement released by the SCA, excavations at Ahnasia, an archaeological area in Beni-Suef, recently uncovered remains of a temple that can be dated to the reign of 19th Dynastyking Ramesses II .
Dr. Sabri Abdel Aziz, Head of the Pharaonic Sector in the SCA, said that inside the remains of the New Kingdom temple, excavators uncovered ten cartouches of Ramesses II and beneath them a relief saying that the ruler had ordered the construction of this temple in Ahnasia.
The excavation team, said Abdel Aziz, will continue excavation of the temple during the next archaeological season.
Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC), son of Seti I, is also known as Ramesses the Great. He is regarded as one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs andwas nicknamed ‘the Great Ancestor’ by his successors.
His reign sawthe construction of many great structures- the famous twin temples at Abu Simbel, carved out of the rocks as an everlasting monument to himself and queen Nefertari and the Ramesseum at Thebes, as well as Pi-Ramesses, a city complete with zoo near the old city of Avaris.
A collection of mud-brick structures dated to the fourth and fifth century AD were also unearthed at the archaeological site. Inside these builds, a collection of terracotta statues depicting Isis, Aphrodite and Horus were discovered.
Nearby, The Beni-Suef museum is being reorganized as part of the Ministry of Cultures initiative to refurbish and develop museums around Egypt.
The museum’s refurbishment involves extending the museums display area and transferring the administrative offices to the basement. The building suffered major water damage due to subterranean water, which has seeped into some of the walls of the museums galleries. New lighting and security systems are being installed as well.
After more than 40 years, archaeologists have finally reached the end of the tunnel discovered in the tomb of Seti I. Hopes the tunnel would lead to the pharaoh’s secret burial site have been crushed, after the seemingly unfinished tunnel suddenly stopped after a back-breaking 174m.
Pharaoh Seti I’s tomb, which is located in the Valley of the Kings, was first discovered in 1817 by strongman-turned-archaeologist Giovanni Belzoni (watch a video about Britain’s explorers). But clearing of the tunnel, cut into the bedrock near the end of the beautifully decorated tomb, was not started until the 1960s, under the direction of Sheikh Ali Abdel-Rasoul. Yet, after taking a wrong turn and at a depth of 130 metres the effort was ceased. Conditions were too hard and excavators feared further digging could bring the tomb crashing down.
Apress release issued by Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, confirms earlier statements by Egyptology tsar Hawass that the team finally succeeded in completely excavating the tunnel of Seti I, which comes to an abrupt halt after 174 metres. During the excavations the team uncovered many shabtis and pottery fragments dating to the 18th Dynasty (1569-1315 BC), limestone cartouches of Seti I, and a small boat model made of faience. When the staircase was cleared the team found that three of the steps were decorated with red graffiti.
See Sandro Vannini’s photography from inside the Tomb of Seti I
When Dr Hawass’ team reached the 136-metre section, which had been partially excavated by Abdel-Rasoul’s workmen, workers were shocked to uncover a large descending passage. When the passage 25.60 metres in length and 2.6 metres wide was cleared, a 54-step descending staircase was revealed.
Following the first passage, a second staircase, cut into the rock and measuring 6 meters long, was discovered.
At the beginning of this passage the team found a false door decorated with hieratic text, instructions to the workman carving out the tunnel: Move the door jamb up and make the passage wider.”
Dr. Hawass said that when he went inside the tunnel of King Seti I for the first time he noticed the walls were well-finished and that there were remains of preliminary sketches of decoration that would be placed on the walls. Unfortunately none of this was ever completed.
He added hewas very surprised to find a second staircase inside the tunnel. It appears the last step was never finished, and the tunnel ends abruptly after the second staircase.
VIDEO: Join Zahi Hawass Inside the Mysterious Tunnel in the Tomb of Seti I
Zahi Hawass takes viewers deep into the mysterious tunnel that leads from the burial chamber of ancient egyptian King Seti I. Join Hawass as he discusses his team’s work to excavate and restore the tunnel, and their hope of solving the mystery of what may lie at its end. Read the transcription of this video, or watch the latest Heritage Key video’s.
Dr Hawass earlier speculated that the tunnel could have been symbolic- a path to the hidden cave of the god Sokar – or that it would take archaeologists to the real burial chamber of the king. Yet, taking the sudden ending of the tunnel into account, he now believes that Seti I was trying to construct a secret tomb inside a tomb.
According to Dr. Hawass, the workmen and artists first finished the original tomb of Seti I (KV17) duringthe pharaoh’stwelve-year reign and then began to construct the tunnel. When the Pharaoah died, his son Ramesses II stopped the work on the tunnel and buried his father.
Dr. Hawass says it is likely Ramesses II continued where his father left off and constructed his own hidden tunnel within his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. An Egyptian mission is currently working in the tomb of Ramesses II to preserve the wall paintings, and to look for a similar tunnel to the one in the tomb of Seti I.
With King Tut’s road trip hitting no fewer than three North American cities in 2009/10, you’d think the continent was getting its fill of Egyptian treasures. Not so Arkansas’ capital city Little Rock, whose Arkansas Arts Center currently plays host to ‘World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed‘, a celebration of all things Egyptian.
Beginning September 25 and running until July 5 next year, the show combines ancient artefacts with a packed events calendar, comprising lectures, films and much more.
The 200 treasures on show include a spectacularly wide range of items, including a risque bead dress, funerary stelae and brightly-coloured shabti figures. A colossus of Ramesses II is sure to be popular, as will be the fine array of Egyptian jewellery, and a royal charter, the Decree of Neferirkare, shows how society ran during the empire’s Old Kingdom.
An Impressive Events Program
‘World of the Pharaohs” events program is as formidable as any exhibition anywhere in the world, enlisting some of Egyptology’s top names to shed light on the things that made Egypt great. People visiting on the weekend can enjoy a 30-minute video featuring famed archaeologist Bob Brier, who will be showing how to make a modern mummy.
Salima Ikram, Heritage Key’s favourite animal cult expert (watch the video), will also be visiting on April 27 to talk about the history and purpose of mummification in Egypt. Even the Land of Punt, the ‘god’s place’ Hatshepsut sailed to 3,800 years ago, will get an airing thanks to the expert talents of Boston University’s Kathryn Bard. Other events will touch on the Alexandria Library, pyramids, kings and a lot more.
“This will put Arkansas on the map of the art world in a whole new way.” – Nan Plummer
Arkansas and Ancient Egypt are hardly synonymous. Yet Executive Director Nan Plummer believes the exhibition will put the south-central state firmly on the ancient world map.
“World of the Pharaohs will be the biggest exhibition ever in Arkansas and the first exhibition of Egyptian art to come to Arkansas,” she says. “The art and objects of ancient Egyptian culture are fascinating to humans all over the world. We are very pleased to offer this extraordinary exhibition.
“The Arkansas Arts Center is the only museum in Arkansas that can host an exhibition of this size and magnitude. We are excited to host this major event that will put Arkansas on the map of the art world in a whole new way.”
The exhibition ‘World of the Pharaohs’ runs until July 5 2010. Tickets are priced $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for college students, $15 for military and $14 for youths. Kids aged five and under get to visit for free.
Part of the Nubian Monuments, Abu Simbel is an ancient site home to two rock temples in the south of Egypt. A beautiful tribute build by Pharoah Ramesses II to his queen Nefertari, they had the alterior motive of commemorating the Battle of Kadesh, as well as the added bonus of intimidating the neighbours!Nothing like a massive temple or two to show the region who’s boss!
The beauty of this monumental structure is depicted perfectly in gh0stdot’s photograph. Choosing to portray the two ancient statues at an angle which captures them from below, and results in a picture including the sky, the effect is one which shows the great detail that went into these structures. The colour is very rich and glows the stone from which it is made, and the dramatic shading really punctuates this photograph to life.
Be sure to check out gh0stdot’s photostream for some truly stunning shots of ancient relics around the world.
Archaeologists excavating at Ahnasia in Upper Egypt, have unearthed the remains of a 3,300-year-old temple built by pharaoh Ramesses the Great.
