- ABU SIR, Egypt (Reuters) - Czech archeologists Friday opened the basalt sarcophagus
of a Pharaonic priest who had remained undisturbed since his burial over
2,500 years ago. About 30 dignitaries and journalists crammed into the
140 square feet underground tomb of Iufaa which was discovered by the Czech
mission in 1995.
-
- Some 92 feet above them, almost 120 diplomats
and archeologists waited in the desert around the Abu Sir pyramids for
a glimpse of the coffin which dates back to 525 BC. ``This tomb has been
undisturbed by robbers. The fact it was found in situ is unique,'' Czech
Egyptologist Miroslav Barta told reporters at the site, 12 miles west of
Cairo.
-
- ``This is a great discovery but it is
not as important as the amount of information we will find about the ancient
lives of the Egyptians,'' he added.
-
- Inside the tomb shaft, laborers dusted
off the four-ton basalt coffin lid with its benign-looking depiction of
Iufaa before wrapping it in chains and lifting it.
-
- Spectators gasped as they saw the decorated
wooden lining of the tomb and the fragile wooden box containing Iufaa's
mummy. Workers removed the canopic jars, furniture and wealth of pottery
around the tomb before it was opened.
-
- ``This is very important because it reveals
the secrets of a man who was also the controller of the Pharaonic palace,''
Zahi Hawas, director of the Giza pyramids plateau, told Reuters.
-
- Barta said Iufaa's tomb was the first
to be discovered intact after British archeologist Howard Carter opened
Pharaoh Tutankhamen's gold-filled burial chamber in 1923.
-
- Archeologists said that while no gold
or jewels were found in the priest's tomb, the richly inscribed sarcophagus
and the limestone walls were invaluable for Egyptologists.
-
- ``The tomb provides information about
when the Persians were in Egypt, something we don't know much about,''
Barta said. Archeologists said Iufaa probably practised under 26th dynasty
Pharaoh Ankhkaenre Psamtik who was dethroned by Persian ruler Cambyses.
``The tomb is in an isolated cemetery of 12 others who probably cooperated
with the Persians,'' Hawas said. Barta said the Pharaonic cults had many
Persian followers and Iufaa's tomb showed he was highly regarded.
-
- Most of the original limestone walls
of the tomb no longer exist and the Czech mission built a dome above the
sarcophagus to protect it from the crumbling rock it was cut into.
-
- ``There is no gold in this tomb but the
amazing thing is that it was found intact. It is like looking at the unknown.
The sands of Egypt always reveal secrets,'' Hawas said.
|
Homepage