3 days ago
Unveiling Ancient Rituals and Forgotten Coffins at Karnak's Southern Chapels
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected the restoration and rehabilitation project of the Southern Chapels at the Akh-Menou Temple complex in Karnak, Luxor. The project, carried out in collaboration with the French-Egyptian Center for Karnak Temples Studies, has brought remarkable results.
The restoration revealed a series of significant inscriptions, including vivid depictions of rituals performed by King Thutmose III in devotion to the god Amun. The walls of the main passage were adorned with scenes from the king's Heb Sed (jubilee festival), along with a long foundation inscription describing the temple as a 'Temple for Millions of Years,' dedicated to Amun-Ra and the gods of Karnak.
Dr. Khaled also announced that the team had unearthed a group of small wooden coffins believed to belong to children. Though most were in poor condition and lacked inscriptions, they offer a rare glimpse into ancient burial practices. Experts in human osteology and wooden coffin conservation will soon be brought in to study the remains and determine their age, sex, cause of death, and historical context.
