Egypt Opens Two Ancient Pyramids And Unveils Newly Found Sarcophagi And Mummies

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - A collection of newly found sarcophagi, some containing well-preserved mummies have been unveiled when Egypt opened two ancient pyramids located south of the capital Cairo.

New discovery in Dahshur: funerary masks, anthropoid sarcophagi, mummies. source

The Bent Pyramid of King Sneferu, the first pharaoh of Egypt's 4th dynasty, and a nearby pyramid would be reopened to visitors for the first time since 1965.

Pharaoh Snefru (Sneferu) was the founder of the 4th dynasty during the Old Kingdom. Snefru  is considered the greatest builder in Egyptian history, who reigned from around 2613 BC to 2589 BC, according to Manetho, an Egyptian priest, living in the third century BC.

A sarcophagus that was discovered near the King Amenemhat II pyramid is displayed during a presentation, south of Cairo, Egypt, July 13, 2019 (Reuters Photo)

According to Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani, a team of archaeologists had uncovered sarcophagi and the remains of an ancient wall dating back to the Middle Kingdom some 4,000 years ago, reports Daily Sabah.

See also:

Meidum ‘Collapsed’ Pyramid Of Great Builder Pharaoh Snefru

The finds were made during excavation work in the royal necropolis of Dahshur on the west bank of the Nile River, in an area home to some of Egypt's oldest pyramids.

Sneferu's Bent Pyramid in Dahshur. source

"Several stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi were found and some contain mummies in good condition," the antiquities ministry said.

The ancient wall stretches some 60 meters and is situated south of the pyramid of 12th dynasty pharaoh King Amenemhat II, also in the Dahshur necropolis.

Funerary masks among discoveries in Dashur, Egypt. source

The finds also included funerary masks as well as tools dating back to the Late Period -- which spanned almost 300 years up to Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in 332 BC -- used for cutting stones, the ministry said.

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer