Thursday, June 03, 2010

Tomb of Ptah Mes discovered in Saqqara

Heritage Key (Ann Wuyts)

With photo.

Archaeologists have discovered the 3,300 year-old tomb of Ptahmes, 19th Dynasty army leader and royal scribe, at Saqqara. The discovery of the tomb – dated to the second half of the 19th Dynasty (1203-1186BC) - by the Archaeological Faculty of the Cairo University was announced today, putting an end to a 300-year-old archaeological riddle.

Ptahmes' tomb is 70 metres long and contains numerous chapels. Dr Zahi Hawass commented its design is similar to that of the tomb of Ptah Im Wiya, a royal sear bearer who lived during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten, discovered in 2007 by Dutch archaeologists.

As Ptahmes was appointed to several official posts – including mayhor of Memphis, royal scribe and supervisor of the Ptah temple – Dr Ola El-Egezi, who led the excavations, concluded he must have been a prominent figure. The 19th Dynasty cemetery, located on the south side of the ramp of the Pyramid of King Unas, was reserved for the burial of ancient Egypt's top government officials.

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