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EGYPT-ARCHAEOLOGY
Egypt unearths tomb of ancient high priest
CAIRO, Dec 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Egyptian archaeologists have discovered the
tomb of a priest dating back more than 4,400 years in the pyramid complex of
Saqqara south of the capital Cairo, authorities said Saturday.
“Today we are announcing the last discovery of the year 2018, it’s a new
discovery, it’s a private tomb,” Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany told an
audience of invited guests including reporters.
“It is exceptionally well preserved, coloured, with sculpture inside. It
belongs to a high official priest… (and) is more than 4,400 years old,” he
said.
The tomb belongs to “Wahtye”, a high priest who served during the fifth
dynasty reign of King Neferirkare, the antiquities ministry said.
His tomb is decorated with scenes showing the royal priest alongside his
mother, wife and other members of his family, the ministry said in a
statement.
It also contains more than a dozen niches and 24 colourful statues of the
cleric and members of his family, it said.
In November archeology officials announced the discovery in Saqqara of
seven sarcophagi, some dating back more than 6,000 years, during excavation
work started in April by the same archaeological mission.
Three of those tombs contained mummified cats and scarabs.
The Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo is home to the famous Djoser pyramid,
a more than 4,600-year-old monument which dominates the site and the
country’s first.
The tomb, built by the master architect Imhotep for the Pharoah Djoser,
stood 62 metres (203 feet) tall originally and is considered the oldest
building in the world built entirely of stone.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1840 hrs