Latest news with #Ramesside-era
Egypt Today
2 days ago
- Egypt Today
Three New Tombs Discovered in Luxor: A Major Breakthrough in Egypt's New Kingdom Heritage
A major archaeological discovery has just been made in Luxor's Dra Abu el-Naga: three newly uncovered tombs belonging to high-ranking officials from the New Kingdom era. Excavation and cleaning efforts are ongoing to reveal more about the tombs' owners, with plans to study and publish the findings in academic detail. The secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities personally visited the site and stressed the importance of scientific documentation and publication. An Egyptian archaeological mission in the Dra Abu el-Naga area on Luxor's West Bank has unearthed three New Kingdom tombs during the current excavation season. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery as a major scientific and archaeological achievement, bolstering Egypt's standing on the global cultural tourism map. He noted that these tombs are expected to become a key attraction for lovers of heritage and history due to their rich cultural and human significance. The Minister emphasized that this discovery—carried out entirely by Egyptian hands—demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of local archaeologists in making world-class discoveries. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected the site and confirmed that all three tombs date back to the New Kingdom. The names and titles of their owners were identified through inscriptions found within the tombs. He noted that further cleaning and analysis will be conducted to better understand the tombs' significance, with a commitment to scientific study and publication. Mohamed Abdel-Badei, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, revealed that one of the tombs belongs to 'Amun-em-Opet,' a Ramesside-era official who served at a temple or estate of Amun. While much of the artwork was destroyed, surviving scenes depict offerings, funerary furniture, and banquet rituals. The second and third tombs date back to the 18th Dynasty. One belonged to 'Baki,' a granary overseer, while the other belonged to 'S,' who held multiple titles: overseer of Amun's temple in the oases, mayor of the northern oases, and scribe. As for their layout: • Amun-em-Opet's tomb features a small courtyard, an entrance leading to a square hall, and a niche—later altered in reuse. • Baki's tomb includes a long corridor-like courtyard, followed by another yard leading to a transverse hall and then a longitudinal chamber ending in an unfinished shrine with a burial shaft. • The tomb of 'S' starts with a small courtyard and burial shaft, leading to the main entrance and a transverse hall that connects to an unfinished longitudinal room. This discovery adds a fascinating new chapter to Egypt's ever-unfolding archaeological story. Three New Tombs Discovered in Luxor: A Major Breakthrough in Egypt's New Kingdom Heritage A major archaeological discovery has just been made in Luxor's Dra Abu el-Naga: three newly uncovered tombs belonging to high-ranking officials from the New Kingdom era. Excavation and cleaning efforts are ongoing to reveal more about the tombs' owners, with plans to study and publish the findings in academic detail. The secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities personally visited the site and stressed the importance of scientific documentation and publication. An Egyptian archaeological mission in the Dra Abu el-Naga area on Luxor's West Bank has unearthed three New Kingdom tombs during the current excavation season. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery as a major scientific and archaeological achievement, bolstering Egypt's standing on the global cultural tourism map. He noted that these tombs are expected to become a key attraction for lovers of heritage and history due to their rich cultural and human significance. The Minister emphasized that this discovery—carried out entirely by Egyptian hands—demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of local archaeologists in making world-class discoveries. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected the site and confirmed that all three tombs date back to the New Kingdom. The names and titles of their owners were identified through inscriptions found within the tombs. He noted that further cleaning and analysis will be conducted to better understand the tombs' significance, with a commitment to scientific study and publication. Mohamed Abdel-Badei, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, revealed that one of the tombs belongs to 'Amun-em-Opet,' a Ramesside-era official who served at a temple or estate of Amun. While much of the artwork was destroyed, surviving scenes depict offerings, funerary furniture, and banquet rituals. The second and third tombs date back to the 18th Dynasty. One belonged to 'Baki,' a granary overseer, while the other belonged to 'S,' who held multiple titles: overseer of Amun's temple in the oases, mayor of the northern oases, and scribe. As for their layout: • Amun-em-Opet's tomb features a small courtyard, an entrance leading to a square hall, and a niche—later altered in reuse. • Baki's tomb includes a long corridor-like courtyard, followed by another yard leading to a transverse hall and then a longitudinal chamber ending in an unfinished shrine with a burial shaft. • The tomb of 'S' starts with a small courtyard and burial shaft, leading to the main entrance and a transverse hall that connects to an unfinished longitudinal room. This discovery adds a fascinating new chapter to Egypt's ever-unfolding archaeological story.
Egypt Independent
5 days ago
- General
- Egypt Independent
Photos: After half a century, the ‘Kampp23' tomb's owner has been revealed
A joint Egyptian-Canadian archaeological mission, comprising the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Ontario, has finally identified the owner of the Kampp23 tomb in the Asasif area on Luxor's West Bank, which was first discovered in the 1970s. Excavations from the mission identified the tomb owner as likely being Amun-Mes, mayor of Thebes during the Ramesside period, alongside uncovering several other titles he held. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, explained that although the tomb had been previously known for half-a-century, archaeologists had been unable to determine the identity of its owner or his titles. This mission is the first to work inside the tomb since its discovery in the 1970s, he said, adding that more work will be done to continue excavations and study of the tomb's inscriptions to learn more about the tomb owner's role in ancient Egyptian history. Disputed identity The head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that several artifacts and inscriptions previously discovered in various locations on Luxor's West Bank bear other titles for a person named Amun-Mes. These include advisor to the king, divine father of Amun, tax collector, and head of the quarry service for the expedition of King Ramesses IV to Wadi Hammamat. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether these titles specifically belong to the owner of the tomb, Kampp 23. The head of the mission from the Canadian side, Casey L. Kirkpatrick, said that the mission is continuing its work to uncover more about the tomb's owner, expressing her hope that the mission's upcoming excavation seasons will resolve debate surrounding the identity of the tomb's owner. The tomb features a rock-cut construction and an open courtyard surrounded on three sides by the remains of mudbrick walls and a large mudbrick edifice on the eastern side. Two niches carved into the walls surround the entrance to the tomb. The architectural layout of the tomb resembles that of Ramesside-era tombs, in a T-shape. It features a corridor leading from the chamber to the burial chamber. It also features rock-cut statues in the transverse hall and the chamber. Tourism Minister praises finding Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery, which he called a new achievement in the record of Egyptian-foreign missions operating in Egypt – the result of fruitful scientific cooperation with international academic institutions. This discovery further serves to enhance the understanding of the lives of senior officials in the ancient Egyptian state, he said. The minister assured that Egypt will continue to support archaeological research and discovery efforts, which will aid in strengthening the country's position on the global cultural tourism map.
Egypt Independent
5 days ago
- General
- Egypt Independent
Photos: After half a century, the ‘Kampp23' tomb owner has been revealed
A joint Egyptian-Canadian archaeological mission, comprising the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Ontario, has finally identified the owner of the Kampp23 tomb in the Asasif area on Luxor's West Bank, which was first discovered in the 1970s. Excavations from the mission identified the tomb owner as likely being Amun-Mes, mayor of Thebes during the Ramesside period, alongside uncovering several other titles he held. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, explained that although the tomb had been previously known for half-a-century, archaeologists had been unable to determine the identity of its owner or his titles. This mission is the first to work inside the tomb since its discovery in the 1970s, he said, adding that more work will be done to continue excavations and study of the tomb's inscriptions to learn more about the tomb owner's role in ancient Egyptian history. Disputed identity The head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that several artifacts and inscriptions previously discovered in various locations on Luxor's West Bank bear other titles for a person named Amun-Mes. These include advisor to the king, divine father of Amun, tax collector, and head of the quarry service for the expedition of King Ramesses IV to Wadi Hammamat. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether these titles specifically belong to the owner of the tomb, Kampp 23. The head of the mission from the Canadian side, Casey L. Kirkpatrick, said that the mission is continuing its work to uncover more about the tomb's owner, expressing her hope that the mission's upcoming excavation seasons will resolve debate surrounding the identity of the tomb's owner. The tomb features a rock-cut construction and an open courtyard surrounded on three sides by the remains of mudbrick walls and a large mudbrick edifice on the eastern side. Two niches carved into the walls surround the entrance to the tomb. The architectural layout of the tomb resembles that of Ramesside-era tombs, in a T-shape. It features a corridor leading from the chamber to the burial chamber. It also features rock-cut statues in the transverse hall and the chamber. Tourism Minister praises finding Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery, which he called a new achievement in the record of Egyptian-foreign missions operating in Egypt – the result of fruitful scientific cooperation with international academic institutions. This discovery further serves to enhance the understanding of the lives of senior officials in the ancient Egyptian state, he said. The minister assured that Egypt will continue to support archaeological research and discovery efforts, which will aid in strengthening the country's position on the global cultural tourism map.
The Star
22-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Archaeologists identify owner of 3,000-year-old Luxor tomb
CAIRO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian-Canadian archaeological team has identified the owner of a 3,000-year-old tomb in Luxor, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Thursday. The tomb, known as Kampp 23 and first discovered in the 1970s in the Asasif area, belonged to Amun-Mes, who served as mayor of Thebes during the Ramesside period, the ministry said in a statement. The joint mission, a collaboration between Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Ontario, also identified several of Amun-Mes's titles during their excavations. Abdel-Ghaffar Wagdy, head of the Egyptian team, said evidence suggests the tomb was reused at a later time. His team uncovered remnants of colored plaster over inscriptions on limestone walls, parts of the main entrance, and fragments of artifacts like ushabti statues. Kampp 23 is a rock-cut tomb with an open courtyard. It features a large mudbrick structure on its eastern side and two carved niches flanking the entrance. The tomb's architecture, including its T-shape with a corridor leading to a burial chamber and rock-cut statues, reflects typical Ramesside-era designs. The Ramesside period, part of ancient Egypt's New Kingdom, covers the 19th and 20th dynasties. It lasted 225 years, from the reign of Ramesses I in 1292 BC to Ramesses XI in 1077 BC.
