The archeological expedition has been working in Saqqara since 2018
An Egyptian archeological mission in the Saqqara necropolis has discovered 250 richly painted wooden sarcophagi and 150 bronze statuettes of ancient Egyptian deities.
This is the largest number ever discovered in the funeral complex near Cairo, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Monuments said. The artifacts date back about 2,500 years.
The statuettes depict the deities Bastet, Anubis, Osiris, Isis and Hathor, as well as tools used for rituals dedicated to Isis. Among the finds is a statue of the priest, architect and high official from the time of the Third Imhotep dynasty. Archaeologists have also found cosmetics such as charcoal eye lines, as well as combs, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
The leader of the team, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities Mustafa Waziri explained that in one of the sarcophagi a papyrus written in hieroglyphs was found, which may contain stanzas from the Book of the Dead. The papyrus was sent to a laboratory at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo, where it will be examined.
The sarcophagi will be transported to the Great Egyptian Museum in Giza, the opening of which is one of the most anticipated events in Egypt.
The archeological expedition has been working in Saqqara since 2018 and the announced discoveries are not the first. Among the ancient artifacts found so far are sarcophagi and mummies of humans and animals.
