Latest news with #Mut
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Discovered a Massive Haul of 2,600-Year Old Egyptian Jewelry
Jewelry was an important part of ancient Egyptian culture. Excavation at the Karnak temple found a 2,600-year-old pot filled with gold jewelry, beads, and statues. The statues of Egyptian gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu may have been worn as amulets. Despite their hierarchical society, jewelry was for everyone in ancient Egypt. The poorest farmers and the richest pharaohs were all likely adorned (or at least buried) with jewelry. However, these accessories weren't just for display—they were thought to have 'apotropaic' powers, or powers to ward off evil. For the living, Egyptians thought jewelry would fend off disease and danger. For the dead, jewelry was meant to protect them for the rest of eternity. According to the American Research Center in Egypt, even just a single bead could act as a window into ancient Egyptian culture. A recent excavation on the Karnak temple complex near Luxor, Egypt—which developed across a millennia, predominantly between the 12th and 20th dynasties, and prominently features the Temple of Amun-Ra—resulted in archaeologists discovering more than just a bead. It uncovered a whole treasure trove. The project was conducted by the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). At the dig site, archaeologists discovered a broken pot filled with gold jewelry, statues of gods, beads, and a brooch. Experts believe the vessel is approximately 2,600 years old, dating back to Egypt's 26th dynasty. Researchers found the artifacts in good condition, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The statues uncovered during the excavation depict the god Amun, the goddess Mut, and their son Khonsu side by side. Amun (meaning 'the hidden one') is often considered the father of pharaohs and king of gods. In the New Kingdom, Amun merged with sun god Ra (sometimes spelled 'Re'), becoming both the visible and invisible god, which appealed to the Egyptian ideal of balance. Experts believe the figurines are part of an amulet or another piece of jewelry worn around the neck. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, all artifacts found at the site will be restored and likely displayed at the Luxor museum. This excavation was a small part of ongoing work at the Karnak temple complex, according to Jérémy Hourdin, head of the French's side of the project. Sherif Fathy—Minister of Tourism and Antiquities—praised the collaboration between the teams, emphasizing the role of their work on some of the 'most important' ancient Egyptian temples in the world. 'It is a very important discovery,' Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said,'because it provides a clearer understanding of the historical development of the Karnak Temples during the first millennium B.C.E.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Miami Herald
07-03-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Hidden Egyptian gold and groundbreaking canoes: See the latest archaeology discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Throughout history, cultures have left behind a trail of breadcrumbs for archaeologists to follow. New sites and artifacts are found all the time, revealing forgotten secrets of the past. Here are some of the latest discoveries: Golden artifacts — found in broken pot — discovered at famed Egyptian temple. See them Archaeologists working at the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, Egypt, uncovered a broken pot containing gold and metal rings, gold-plated beads, and statuettes dating back to the 26th dynasty. These artifacts, including depictions of the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, offer insights into the religious practices of the time. | Published Feb. 28 | Read More | Thousands of war artifacts — and body of Red Army soldier — unearthed on Poland coast In Gdańsk, Poland, archaeologists unearthed over 14,000 artifacts, including a military bunker with evidence of German war crimes and the remains of a Red Army soldier. The excavation revealed items from various conflicts, including cannonballs, musket shells, and nearly 400 military explosives. | Published March 4 | Read More | 'Rare' ancient Roman item found buried under 1,800-year-old fence in Scotland. See it A 'rare' Roman brooch was discovered beneath a fence at an Iron Age settlement in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The brooch, possibly buried as an offering, provides a glimpse into the interactions between Roman soldiers and local inhabitants. | Published March 5 | Read More | Dad and son stumble upon 'one of the most important finds of all time in Polynesia' On Chatham Island, New Zealand, a father and son discovered hundreds of wood pieces, rope fibers, and possibly sail fabric from an ancient canoe, or 'waka.' This remarkable find, considered one of the most important in Polynesia, sheds light on Polynesian waka technology. | Published March 5 | Read More | 17th-century castle defenses — the first ever found — discovered in UK. See the find Archaeologists in Sheffield, England, uncovered 17th-century defensive stakes, known as an 'abatis,' in the moat of Sheffield Castle. These wooden stakes, used to impede attackers, are the first of their kind to be recovered from this period. | Published March 5 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of intriguing archaeological discoveries from around the globe. Check back to see the latest finds.
Arab Times
07-03-2025
- General
- Arab Times
Gold and Sacred Statuettes Found in 2,600-Year-Old Pot at Karnak Temple, Egypt
LUXOR, Mar 7: Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery at the ancient Karnak Temple complex near Luxor, Egypt: a 2,600-year-old pot containing a treasure trove of gold jewelry and statuettes depicting a family of ancient Egyptian gods. The findings, which include beads, amulets, and intricately crafted figurines, shed new light on the religious and cultural practices of the time. The Karnak Temple complex, one of Egypt's most significant ancient shrines, was constructed nearly 4,000 years ago and underwent continuous maintenance, renovation, and modification for almost a millennium. The recently unearthed artifacts were found in a small, broken pot, with all items preserved in excellent condition, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The collection includes gold and metal rings, as well as a triple statuette representing the chief god of Thebes, Amun; his wife and mother goddess, Mut; and their son, the moon god Khonsu. The statuettes, which depict the deities standing side by side, are believed to have been worn as neck amulets, serving both decorative and protective purposes. In addition to the statuettes, researchers discovered a metal brooch, animal-shaped artifacts symbolizing the gods, and a variety of beads, some of which are gold-plated and date back to the early years of Egypt's 26th Dynasty. Among the amulets were wadjet pieces—eye-shaped ornaments traditionally believed to safeguard their wearers. The purpose of burying these artifacts in a pot remains unclear. Researchers speculate that they may have been part of a ritual offering or a donation to the temple treasury. This discovery has the potential to provide deeper insights into the Karnak Temple's historical evolution and its significance during the first millennium BC. The findings not only highlight the artistic and religious practices of ancient Egypt but also underscore the enduring legacy of the Karnak Temple as a center of spiritual and cultural importance. Further study of these artifacts could unlock new understanding of this iconic site and its role in ancient Egyptian society.
Miami Herald
28-02-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Golden artifacts — found in broken pot — discovered at famed Egyptian temple. See them
Once the 'largest and most important religious complex' in the region, the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, Egypt, took more than 1,000 years to complete, experts say. Dozens of pharaohs left their mark on the site, which was built between the 12th and 20th dynasties, and researchers are still working to understand its historical significance thousands of years later. Now, archaeologists are working to turn the complex into an open-air museum, leading to new discoveries. While working in the northwestern sector of the temple complex, a joint French-Egyptian archaeological team found pottery dating to the 26th dynasty, or between 664 and 525 B.C., according to a Feb. 28 Facebook post from the Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Among the pottery was a broken pot and gold items glinting from within, the ministry said. Gold and metal rings, gold-plated beads and statuettes were found inside, officials said, including a three-piece of gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu. There were other pieces showing gods in animal forms as well as a metal brooch. Amun was the Egyptian god of the sun and air, and was one of the most important gods in ancient Egypt. Mut was Amun's wife, or great mother, and is often pictured with the head of a vulture, holding the sign of life and with a feather representing truth at her feet. Khonsu was their son, and often depicted as a mummified man. Together, the three gods made the divine triad at Thebes, and the temple for Amun is a central part of the Karnak complex. All parts of the pot were found broken, but in good condition, as are the items hidden inside, officials said. French officials said huge mud buildings, also from the 26th dynasty, were found during the same project, and were likely used as workshops or stores in the temple complex, according to the post. The 26th dynasty of ancient Egypt, called the Late Period or Saite Period, was marked by 130 years of control by a single powerful family, according to the MET Museum. The rulers were less concerned with international power and more focused on their national status back home, according to the museum, dedicating time and money to stone monuments and statuary as their artistic expression. The Karnak temple complex is in Luxor, in east-central Egypt along the Nile River. Facebook Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from the Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
