Archaeologists have made an important discovery in southern Egypt. Experts were able to discover part of the foundation – a kind of gate – of the temple of Hatshepsut and tombs dating back to the era of the Middle Kingdom. Egyptologist Zahi Hawass revealed the details.
iStock
Sculpture of the Temple of Hatshepsut.
A group of scientists worked in the Deir el-Bahri area in Luxor province. Large-scale excavations and research in this area began in the fall of 2022. The results of the search became known recently.
As Egyptologist Zahi Hawass explained during a press conference, “the mission found in the vicinity of the valley part of the foundation of a structure,” which was “the main entrance gate to the mortuary temple.” Hatshepsut, in whose honor the temple was built, was one of the few female pharaohs in the history of Ancient Egypt.
The archaeological team also managed to find a large number of inscriptions and rock tombs at the site. The latter date back to the era of the Middle Kingdom (approximately 2050-1710 BC).
“Significant artifacts were found in the tombs, including ceramic tables for sacrificial offerings,” the Egyptologist said, adding that bronze coins with images of Alexander the Great dating back to the era of Ptolemy I (367 – 283 BC) were also unearthed at the site. .
Among other significant objects, experts noted rock-cut burials of the 17th dynasty, archery bows, and the tomb of Djehuti-Mesa (keeper of the palace of Queen Tetisheri).
“Despite the high status of the owner, the relative modesty of the tomb reflects the economic problems that Egypt faced at the time due to long wars with the Hyksos,” said Zahi Hawass.
Other important finds included intact “Rishi coffins”, including one containing the remains of a child bound with ropes, and nearby a well-preserved mat and woven wooden bed from the 17th to 18th dynasties were discovered.
The mortuary temple itself appeared in the 15th century BC in the area of the Deir el-Bahri rock. The latter is a kind of “line” beyond which the Valley of the Kings begins. The temple was erected during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. After her death, Thutmose III, who was the queen’s stepson, ordered the destruction of some of the sculptures.
Earlier, at an excavation site in Saqqara, Egypt, archaeologists discovered a 4,100-year-old tomb of a doctor who probably treated the pharaoh himself. It was even possible to establish the name of the ancient physician.
The tomb belonged to Tetinebef, and he bore the title of “the exorcist of Serket” (or Selket), a goddess who was associated with scorpions and was believed to provide protection from their stings. This title meant that the person buried here “was an expert in venomous bites.”
Hieroglyphic inscriptions on the walls helped to understand that the doctor was both an expert on medicinal plants and a “chief dentist,” which is extremely rare.
Source: rodina-history.ru
