Latest news with #ThutmoseII
The Sun
29-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Mysterious giant pink DOOR ‘to the underworld' is found in 4,400 year old tomb – and it hides a chilling purpose
A MYSTERIOUS giant pink door has been discovered inside a 4,400-year-old tomb, and it's thought to lead directly to the underworld. The entrance was found at the Saqqara Necropolis - an ancient cemetery full of pyramids and tombs - in Cairo, Egypt. 7 7 7 The stunning discovery was made by a team of Egyptian archaeologists as part of ongoing research work at the site. Pictures from the dig show the looming pink door which measures an impressive 15ft tall and 4ft wide. But not all is as it seems. Instead of a functioning door archaeologists have actually uncovered a wall carving which has been cleverly designed to look like an entrance. The carving has been decorated with inscriptions of the late tomb owner's name and grand titles, dating back to the 26th dynasty. The names include Hereditary Prince, Governor of the Buto and Nekhbet Regions, Royal Scribe, Minister, Judge, and Chanting Priest. Ancient Egyptians believed that the soul of the deceased could freely enter and exit the tomb through such a door. The tomb is thought to have belonged to Prince Userefre - the son of the Egyptian pharaoh Userkaf, who reigned during Egypt's Fifth Dynasty. The prince's burial chamber has not yet been found but excavations of the site are ongoing. King Userkaf was the founder and first king of the fifth dynasty, making this discovery particularly significant for understanding royal lineages. Dr Zahi Hawass, an archaeologist, said that archaeologists also found a statue of King Djoser, his wife and his ten daughters inside the tomb. King Djoser reigned before King Userkaf. The inscriptions in the tomb also suggest that it may have been reused years after the prince's burial. Secretary-general of Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled said this was the first time a false door made of pink granite of this size has been found. The door was discovered as part of a joint Egyptian mission - led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage. This comes after archaeologists discovered the first royal tomb since Tutankhamen was uncovered more than 100 years ago. The long-lost burial place of King Thutmose II was found close to a vast burial ground known as The Valley of the Kings in Luxor. The entrance to the tomb and its main passage were initially discovered in 2022, but continued excavations found evidence linking it to the Pharaoh. Fragments of vases inscribed with the Pharaoh's name were found in the tomb, identifying Thutmose II as the 'deceased king'. Sections of a religious text and blue paint and yellow stars that were placed in the tomb of kings were also found. Archaeologists uncovered Thutmose II's mummified remains two centuries ago not far from his tomb, but the original burial site had never been found until now. The tomb was discovered as part of a joint British-Egyptian archaeological mission, and is the last missing tomb of the kings of the 18th dynasty in Egypt. King Tut's tomb is one of best preserved of all those found in The Valley of Kings, and made front pages around the world when it was discovered. The tomb was discovered by English archaeologist Howard Carter, who set about finding and excavating it in 1915. He eventually found the site of the pharaoh's remains in November 1922, but it took another three months before the archaeologist finally found the sarcophagus itself. But there was a dark side to the story – following the unearthing of Tutankhamun's remains, various figures connected with the expedition died in mysterious circumstances. These included Lord Canarvon, the financial backer of the excavation team, who died from an infected mosquito bite. Sir Archibald Douglas-Reid, who X-rayed the pharaoh's remains, was killed by a mystery illness. Carter himself died in 1939 from Hodgkin's Disease aged 64. 7 7 7
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists unearth 3,200-year-old tomb linked to ancient Egypt's military elite
A team of Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed a 3,200-year-old tomb believed to belong to a high-ranking military commander from the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses III, often considered the last great pharaoh of ancient Egypt. The remarkable discovery, made at the Tell el-Maschuta site in northeastern Egypt, sheds light on the region's strategic role in defending the nation's eastern borders during the New Kingdom (spanning roughly 1550-1070 BCE). The tomb itself, constructed from mud bricks, consists of a main burial chamber and three adjoining rooms, their walls coated in white mortar. Inside, archaeologists uncovered a trove of artefacts indicating the high status of the man buried. Related British-Egyptian archaeologists reveal pharaoh's tomb after nearly a century in 'significant find' The Bashiri mystery: A 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy that no archaeologist dares to open Among the most significant finds was a gold ring bearing a name inscription of Ramesses III, along with bronze arrowheads and a small ivory box - clear evidence to suggest that the tomb belonged to someone of high military importance. Another particularly intriguing discovery was a collection of inscribed pottery vessels bearing the name of Pharaoh Horemheb, who reigned over a century before Ramesses III. Once a military leader himself before ascending to the throne (1323–1295 BCE), Horemheb's name appearing within the tomb suggests that the site may have been repurposed over time. Archaeologists also found alabaster vessels, semi-precious stones, and amulets depicting protective deities Taweret and Bes, as well as the Eye of Udjat, a symbol of healing and well-being in Egyptian mythology. The discovery of the military commander's tomb adds to a series of major Egyptian archaeological finds this year. Just last month, archaeologists unearthed the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II - the first pharaonic burial site found since Tutankhamun's in 1922. Discovered by a joint British-Egyptian team led by Dr Piers Litherland, the tomb was hidden away in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Court of Antiquities, said in a statement that the discovery was 'one of the most significant archeological breakthroughs in recent years.' Days later, the same team announced they may have located a second tomb belonging to Thutmose II, buried 23 metres beneath a carefully disguised mound of rubble, limestone, ash, and mud plaster. Litherland believes the tomb could contain the pharaoh's mummified remains and grave goods. 'The best candidate for what is hidden underneath this enormously expensive, in terms of effort, pile is the second tomb of Thutmose II,' he told The Observer. And earlier this year, a French-Swiss archaeological team in Egypt made another remarkable discovery - the tomb of a high-ranking wizard-doctor who served the pharaohs some 4,000 years ago. Inscriptions identify the tomb's owner as Tetinebefou, a celebrated doctor during the reign of King Pepi II (circa 2305–2118 BC).
South China Morning Post
16-03-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Egypt uncovers 3,500-year-old tomb of King Thutmose II
Content provided by British Council [1] Egypt's antiquities authority has unearthed the ancient tomb of King Thutmose II. It is the first royal tomb found since the famous discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. The tomb was found near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor in southern Egypt. It belonged to King Thutmose II of the 18th dynasty, who lived nearly 3,500 years ago. [2] Thutmose II was an ancestor to Tutankhamen himself, and his half-sister and queen consort was Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Her giant mortuary temple stands on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor, a few kilometres from where the tomb of Thutmose II was found. [3] Initial studies indicate that the contents of the tomb were moved in ancient times. Because of this, the tomb does not contain the famous mummy or the gold treasures found in Tutankhamen's tomb. However, the antiquities ministry said this discovery is 'one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years.' [4] The entrance to the tomb was first discovered in 2022 in the Luxor mountains, west of the Valley of the Kings. Initially, it was thought to lead to the tomb of a royal wife. However, the team later found small pieces of alabaster jars inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose II, referred to as the 'deceased king.' They also found inscriptions that included the name of Hatshepsut, his chief royal consort. This confirmed the identity of the tomb, according to the ministry. [5] Shortly after the king was buried, water flooded the burial chamber. This caused damage to the interior and left pieces of plaster that had parts of the Book of Amduat, an old text about the underworld. Some funerary items that belonged to Thutmose II have also been found in the tomb. It is being described as 'the first-ever find' of its kind, according to the ministry. [6] Mission leader Dr Piers Litherland stated that the team will keep working in the area, aiming to uncover the original contents of the tomb. In recent years, there has been a rise in significant archaeological discoveries as Egypt aims to enhance its tourism sector, which is an important source of foreign income. [7] Last year, Egypt hosted 15.7 million tourists and aims to attract 18 million visitors in 2025. The crown jewel of the government's strategy is the long-delayed inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the pyramids in Giza, which Egypt has said will finally open this year. Source: Agence France-Presse, February 19 Questions 1. Who was King Thutmose II, according to paragraph 1? 2. In paragraph 4, the inscriptions confirmed that the tomb … A. belonged to a member of the Egyptian royal family B. was built 3,500 years ago. C. was located near the Valley of the Kings D. none of the above 3. Based on your understanding of paragraph 5, what particularly interesting find was discovered in the tomb, and why? 4. What is one of Egypt's primary sources of income from other countries according to paragraph 6? 5. What does the 'crown jewel' in paragraph 7 refer to? 6. Below is a summary of the story. Two of the sentences have a grammar mistake. Find the errors and write the corrections. If there is no mistake, put an x. The first one has been done for you. (3 marks) Example: Egyptian archaeologists have discover the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial site found since Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. Correction: discovered (i) Thutmose II was an ancestor of Tutankhamen and the half-brother of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. (ii) The king's tomb flooded after his buried, and it was badly damaged. (iii) The discovery is considering significant and is part of Egypt's effort to boost its tourism industry. Archaeologists uncovered King Thutmose II's tomb near Luxor, marking the most significant breakthrough in Egyptian archaeology since Tutankhamen's discovery. Photo: AFP Answers 1. He was a king during the 18th dynasty in ancient Egypt. 2. D 3. Some funerary furniture because they are 'the first-ever find' of its kind to be recovered. (accept all similar answers) 4. tourism 5. the Grand Egyptian Museum 6. (i) x; (ii) he was/burial (any one); (iii) considered
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Make Historic Find in Egypt Unlike Any Since King Tut
The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 remains one of Egyptology's most significant archaeological finds. Now, more than a century later, researchers have made only the second discovery of such magnitude in the region. On Feb. 18, Egyptian officials announced the discovery of the tomb of King Thutmose II, making it the last of the lost tombs of the kings of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty that reigned between 1550 and 1292 B.C.E. and the first royal Egyptian tomb to be discovered since that of King Tut more than a century final resting place was found in the area of the ancient city of Thebes located west of Luxor and the iconic Valley of the Kings. The tomb's entrance and main passage were discovered in 2022, but up until now, researchers haven't been able to find evidence explicitly linking the tomb to King Thutmose II. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said archaeologists previously believed it could've belonged to one of the wives of the kings given its proximity to the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut and the wives of King Thutmose III, per CBS News. The team confirmed the structure belonged to Thutmose II after finding parts of alabaster vessels in the ruins inscribed with King Thutmose II's name and description as the "deceased king" as well as the name of Queen Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was Thutmose II's wife and half-sister who ascended to the pharaoh's throne in tandem with Thutmose II and then her son Thutmose mummy of King Thutmose II, however, was found a long time ago. It was first discovered in the 19th century at the nearby Deir el-Bahari archaeological site, where the body was likely moved after the tomb was looted by raiders, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. His mummy, along with those of other ancient Egyptian royals, are now on display at the museum in Cairo.
National Geographic
25-02-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
The last missing tomb from this wealthy Egyptian dynasty has been found
But it is the first since Tut's found near the Valley of the Kings, an ancient royal graveyard a few miles west of modern Luxor in southern Egypt, where many powerful pharaohs and their families were buried in tombs cut into the desert cliffs. The Valley of the Kings was part of a vast "necropolis" or "city of the dead" beside the Nile and the ancient city of Thebes, the capital of Egypt at different times and center of worship of the god Amun. Archaeologists first discovered the tomb's entrance and passageway in October 2022 during explorations of a different tomb cut into the cliff above it. The passageway led to the tomb itself. Initially, researchers thought it belonged to a queen or lesser royal. But University of Cambridge archaeologist Piers Litherland, who led the excavation, points to two features that confirm it was the tomb of a pharaoh: walls decorated with hieroglyphic tracts from a kingly funereal text known as the "Amduat" and plaster fragments of a blue ceiling painted with yellow stars, a representation of the night sky. Finally, inscriptions on fragments in the rubble of alabaster "duck vessels"—small stone or pottery jars shaped like ducks that the ancient Egyptians used to hold cosmetics, perfumes, and ointments—identified the pharaoh as Thutmose II. Who was Pharaoh Thutmose II? Little is known about Thutmose II, who reigned as pharaoh from about 1493 B.C. until about 1479—more than 100 years before Tutankhamun lived, but part of the same 18th Dynasty of Egyptian kings. His rich collection of grave goods, which might be equal to Tut's, was removed from the tomb thousands of years ago, probably when priests relocated and reburied the king's mummy to protect it from flooding about 500 years after his death, Litherland says. The reburied mummy and those of other pharaohs—royal reburials were relatively common—were discovered nearer Thebes in the nineteenth century, and medical scans of his mummy a few year ago suggested Thutmose II may have died from heart failure. But the original tomb of Thutmose II had never been found, although Egyptologists knew that he must have had one. "It is the last missing tomb of the kings of the 18th Dynasty," Litherland says.
