The history of the ancient Egyptians is absolutely fascinating. The art they created, the architecture they built, and the culture they embodied are all worth marveling over. What’s even more incredible is how well some of their culture and history has been preserved over the years – especially this latest discovery.
Recently, Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, Khaled al-Enani, unveiled an archeological discovery that was over 4,000-years-old but looked like it was practically brand new.
Archeologists discovered a tomb that was incredibly well-preserved and had gorgeous inscriptions and bright paintings adorning the walls. The paint was so vibrant, in fact, that it stunned historians and archeologists – it looked like it had been painted just yesterday.
The incredible tomb was said to have belonged to Khuwy, a nobleman from the Fifth Dynasty in the 25-24th century BCE. It is located at a giant necropolis at Saqqara which is in the south of Cairo.
The entire structure is in the shape of an ‘L’ and includes an entrance tunnel that is typically found only in pyramids.
“The L-shaped Khuwy tomb starts with a small corridor heading downwards into an antechamber and from there a larger chamber with painted reliefs depicting the tomb owner seated at an offerings table,” said Mohamed Megahed, the excavation team’s head, in an antiquities ministry statement.
A small corridor leads to the antechamber where you’d reach the large room with the astonishing multi-colored paintings. It’s hard not to have your breath taken away when you see such incredible art that was done so many thousands of years ago.
Archeologists have come to the conclusion the Khuwy must have had a relationship with the pharaoh of that period, Djedkare Isesi, because the colors adorning the chamber were colors of royalty. Her pyramid is located nearby.
Researchers have also theorized that Khuwy and Isesi could have been related.
Also in the tomb, archeologists uncovered Khuwy’s mummy and canopic jars – these are the containers that hold vital bodily organs. Between these discoveries, along with the paintings and inscriptions, researchers hope that they’ll be able to learn much more about Djedkare Isesi’s 40-year reign.
This isn’t the only amazing unveiling the Ministry of Antiquities has surprised us with lately. In fact, in 2018, they found other “exceptionally well-preserved” drawings in the same area of Saqarra, along with a massive cat cemetery and a rare, mummified scarab beetle collection. Not to mention – another tomb.
“In December 2018, officials announced that a tomb belonging to a priest named Wahtye, who served during the fifth dynasty reign of King Neferirkare (between 2500-2300 BC), was also unearthed in Saqqara,” says Geek.com.
Egypt’s incredible and jaw-dropping discoveries are giving them hope that tourism will start to rise for the country – something that hasn’t been the same since political upheaval in 2011.
Take a walk-through video tour of the gorgeous and awe-inspiring tomb below, shared by the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt.
New #archaeological discovery in #Saqqara, #Egypt: An exceptionally painted tomb of a fifth Dynasty dignitary named #Khuwy pic.twitter.com/wI34aXQS3J
— Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (@TourismandAntiq) April 14, 2019
Of course, once the video was posted online, people couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Check out some of the people’s responses and posts below.
Some people couldn’t grasp the fact that it could possibly be 4,000 years old. The paintings were so bright and vivid, it seemed impossible.
https://twitter.com/britta_el/status/1117403138049433600
The colors of the tomb were immediately impressing people all across the globe.
Incredible and beautiful colours!
— irena (@aurantiacoXI) April 14, 2019
wow! That is beautiful!
— NUN-The Awakening (@whatisNUN) April 14, 2019
Mind-blowing….the colors are as fresh as the day they were painted!
— Lynne Lecher (@Lynguist716) April 14, 2019
What do you think of this amazing discovery? It’s amazing to think about what else archeologists haven’t uncovered yet.
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