Ptolemaic-Era Tomb With Mummies, Paintings Found In Upper Egypt

Conny Waters – AncientPages.com  - An exceptionally well-painted Ptolemaic-era tomb of a nobleman called Toutou and his wife, a musician, was discovered at Al-Dayabat archaeological site in Sohag governorate, Upper Egypt.

The Ptolemaic Kingdom (founded in Egypt in 305 BC) was a Hellenistic kingdom based in ancient Egypt. It was ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, which started with Ptolemy I Soter's accession after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and which ended with the death of Cleopatra and the Roman conquest in 30 BC.

The dynasty Ptolemy was known as the line of Ptolemaic pharaohs and lasted until the suicide of Cleopatra in 30 B.C. Egypt was their basis of power, their granary, and the source of their wealth. The early Ptolemies were effective administrators and business people, who created stable, wealthy, and influential state.

The tomb was accidentally discovered when the Tourism and Antiquities Police arrested a gang who were carrying out illegal excavations in an area near the Al-Dayabat archaeological mound, reports Ahram Online.

After the completion of investigations, the Ministry of Antiquities assigned a scientific archaeological mission, led by Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, to start excavations of the tomb.

“Although it is a very small tomb from the Ptolemaic period, It is exceptionally painted with beautiful scenes,” said Waziri.

The tomb consists of two tiny rooms containing two limestone sarcophagi, as well as a very-well preserved mummy that has not been identified yet.

 

A number of mummified animals and birds were also found in the tomb, including falcons, eagles, cats, dogs and shrews. Waziri said that shrews can see very well at night, and ancient Egyptians believed they could cure blindness. He said the mummified shrews are in good condition.

Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer