Five Magnificent Engraved Ancient Tombs Discovered Near King Merenre Pyramid In Saqqara, Egypt

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - An archaeology team excavating in Saqqara, Egypt has announced the discovery of five magnificent, well-preserved engraved tombs belonging to high-ranking individuals.

The Saqqara necropolis and pyramid field of Memphis, the first Capital of Egypt, has been an important historical site for 5,000 years of Egyptian history, if not even longer. Pharaoh Hor Aha is credited with founding the city of Memphis at a strategic spot. Over the years archaeologists have made many incredible findings at the site and the latest discovery can be added to the long list of archaeological findings in the area.

Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, three of the ancient tombs were unearthed northwest of the Pyramid of Merenre that was constructed for Merenre Nemtyemsaf I during the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt.

Accompanied by Dr. Mostafa Waziri the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Archeology and the President of the Mission Dr. Khaled Al-Anani decided to go down to one of these graves and examine these interesting archaeological treasures. The officials inspect the team’s work, thanking them for their efforts in revealing the secrets of Saqqara.

Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

“The first tomb, which belonged to an official with the rank of Iry, consists of a deep burial shaft leading to a chamber decorated with funerary scenes depicting offering tables, the seven sacred oils, and a façade of the palace. A limestone sarcophagus was also uncovered inside the tomb.

Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The second tomb belongs to a woman that could be the wife of a man named Yaret and has a rectangular burial shaft.

The third tomb belongs to Pepi Nefhany, who held the positions of supervisor of the great house, priest, and purifier of the house. It has a six-meter-deep burial shaft.

Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The fourth one is for a woman named Petty, who was a priest of Hathor and was responsible for the king’s beautification. It also consists of a six-meter deep burial shift.

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The fifth tomb is for a man named Henu, the overseer and supervisor of the royal house. It consists of a seven-meter-deep rectangular burial shaft,” the Ahram Online reports.

The Egyptian archaeology team is still busy at work, brushing the toll of time off the tombs’ walls and identifying the colors of the tombs’ decorations. More work and studies will be carried out to reveal the secrets of these tombs.

The good news is the five tombs, which belonged to top officials, are in a state of good preservation.

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer