Latest news with #Amun
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Egyptian Book of the Dead unearthed in cemetery and experts won't say what it contains
A team of archaeologists have unearthed a 3,500-year-old New Kingdom cemetery in central Egypt, which contains hundreds of ancient Egyptian treasures, including a 43-foot-long papyrus scroll containing part of the 'Book of the Dead' Despite our extensive knowledge of ancient Egyptian culture and practices, there are still many mysteries to unravel. Could we be on the brink of uncovering more ancient wisdom after archaeologists discovered a 3,500 year old New Kingdom cemetery in central Egypt? The team unearthed mummies, amulets, statues, canopic jars for organ storage, and a 43-foot-long papyrus scroll containing part of the 'Book of the Dead'. However, the archaeologists have remained eerily quiet about the contents of this 'Book of the Dead', as reported by Live Science. The term 'Book of the Dead' refers to various texts that served multiple purposes in ancient Egypt, including guiding the deceased through the underworld, reports the Mirror US. This particular scroll, found in 2023, is the first complete text discovered in the Al-Ghuraifa area and is "characterised by being in good condition," according to Mustafa Waziri, the then-secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Experts believe the cemetery dates back to between 1550 BC and 1070 BC. Despite the hundreds of archaeological finds, this ancient text has been hailed as a significant discovery, making the silence surrounding its contents all the more intriguing. Lara Weiss, CEO of the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Germany, is understood to have studied the book extensively and told Live Science: "If it's that long and well-preserved [then it's] certainly a great and interesting find." Multiple coffins and mummies were excavated, including the daughter of a high priest of the ancient god, Amun, linked with air, wind, and fertility. A coffin belonging to a woman thought to have been a singer in the temple of Amun was also discovered. Whilst both represent remarkable discoveries, documenting more of the ancient Egyptian burial text in the 'Book of the Dead' will enable researchers to gain deeper understanding into previously unknown elements of ancient Egypt's religion, beliefs, and afterlife ceremonies, as highlighted by the American Research Center, in Egypt. "The 'Book of the Dead' reveals central aspects of the ancient Egyptians' belief system," the centre reports, "and, like many topics in Egyptology, our theories are constantly changing, growing, and adapting with every new translation of this text." The institute also concluded: "Familiar scenes – like a scale weighing a heart of the deceased against a feather or the eternal destruction of a soul by a deity composed of animal parts – originate from the Book of the Dead. With such impressive narratives, it is clear why Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife are so thoroughly ingrained in our collective memory."
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
‘Elegant' face of Egyptian priestess revealed for first time
The 'elegant' face of an ancient Egyptian priestess whose singing was said to be able to calm the gods can be seen for the first time in 2,800 years. Meresamun had a role of high religious prestige in the inner sanctum of the temple at Karnak before she died in mysterious circumstances. Buried in a luxurious coffin, her mummy was bought in 1920 by American archaeologist James Henry Breasted, and never opened. Now, her living face can be seen for the first time since the iron age, after CT scans were used to peer inside her wrappings. Cicero Moraes, the lead author of the study published in journal OrtogOnLineMag, used scan data from the mummy's skull to recreate Meresamun's features. 'She looks elegant,' he said. 'The reconstruction presents a harmonious and serene face, with features that suggest dignity and gentleness. 'While any aesthetic interpretation involves a degree of speculation, the goal was to maintain a respectful image aligned with the deceased's social role.' The mummy's elite status in life is reflected by her coffin. An inscription on the front gives her name as Meresamun and says she was a 'singer in the interior of the temple of Amun'. Amun was one of the principal gods of the Egyptian pantheon, and the priestess' esteemed place in his temple is reflected by her name, which translates as 'Amun Loves Her'. The coffin itself is richly decorated with many colours and symbols. Mr Moraes said: 'The quality and decoration of the coffin, as well as her religious role in an important temple, suggest that Meresamun belonged to the Theban elite. 'Access to such an elaborate burial is consistent with high social status and significant resources.' Oxford's Ashmolean Museum described her role in an online post. It states: 'She was an elite musician priestess, her job was to sing and make music for the god, Amun. Music was a vital tool in Egyptian religion to pacify the gods.' To recreate Meresamun's face, Mr Moraes combined different techniques. First, soft tissue thickness markers were applied to a virtual recreation of Meresamun's skull, guided by data from living donors, creating an impression of the shape of her face. Then a technique called anatomical deformation was used, in which a virtual model of a donor's face and skull is warped until it matches the subject's dimensions. The resulting faces were then combined to give an objective reconstruction in greyscale, to which subjective elements like skin tone, and eye and hair colour were added. Mr Moraes said: 'This base face was digitally sculpted to match her estimated age. It was refined with the addition of a wig, pigmentation, and textures, always respecting the original anatomical structure.' Meresamun's remains suggest she died about age 30, though her cause of death is unknown. 'She enjoyed good nutrition throughout life,' Mr Moraes said. 'There are no evident signs of disease or an identifiable cause of death.' She may also have been brainier than most, having slightly above-average cranial capacity, though within normal parameters. She was, however, shorter than her peers, at 1.47m (4ft 10in). Mr Moraes, a Brazilian graphics expert prolific in the field of forensic facial reconstructions, has previously worked with police to recreate and identify the faces of crime victims. Based on his experiences, he's confident that his recreation of Meresamun offers a good likeness. He said: 'The anatomical data was rigorously followed, and the final result is a plausible estimate of Meresamun's appearance. I say this with confidence, having worked on real cases with police, including a published academic study where facial approximation contributed to the identification of a crime victim. 'Even so, continuous methodological improvement is essential, and I actively pursue and encourage that effort.'
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meet ancient Egypt's answer to Taylor Swift! Scientists reconstruct the face of an Egyptian priestess whose singing soothed the gods 2,800 years ago
The 'elegant' face of an ancient Egyptian priestess whose singing was said to be able to calm the gods can be seen for the first time in 2,800 years. Meresamun had a role of 'high religious prestige' in the inner sanctum of the temple at Karnak before she died in mysterious circumstances. Buried in a luxurious coffin, her mummy was purchased in 1920 by American archaeologist James Henry Breasted, and never opened. Now her living face can be seen for the first time since the iron age, after CT scans were used to peer inside her wrappings. Cicero Moraes, lead author of the new study, used scan data from the mummy's skull to recreate Meresamun's likeness. 'She looks elegant,' he said. 'The reconstruction presents a harmonious and serene face, with features that suggest dignity and gentleness. 'While any aesthetic interpretation involves a degree of speculation, the goal was to maintain a respectful image aligned with the deceased's social role.' Meresamun (pictured in her coffin) had a role of 'high religious prestige' in the inner sanctum of the temple at Karnak before she died in mysterious circumstances The mummy's elite status in life is revealed by her coffin. An inscription on the front gives her name as Meresamun and says she was a 'singer in the interior of the temple of Amun'. Amun was one of the principle gods of the Egyptian pantheon, and the priestess' esteemed place in his temple is reflected by her name, which translates as 'Amun Loves Her'. The coffin itself is richly decorated with many colours and symbols. Mr Moraes said: 'The quality and decoration of the coffin, as well as her religious role in an important temple, suggest that Meresamun belonged to the Theban elite. 'Access to such an elaborate burial is consistent with high social status and significant resources.' Oxford's Ashmolean Museum described her role in an online post. It states: 'She was an elite musician priestess, her job was to sing and make music for the god Amun. Her living face can be seen for the first time since the iron age, after CT scans were used to peer inside her wrappings How did scientists recreate her face? To recreate her face, Mr Moraes combined different techniques. First, soft tissue thickness markers were applied to a virtual recreation of Meresamun's skull, guided by data from living donors, revealing the likely shape of her face. Then a technique called anatomical deformation was used, in which a virtual model of a donor's face and skull is warped until it matches the subject's dimensions. The resulting faces were then combined to give a objective reconstruction in greyscale, to which subjective elements like skin tone, and eye and hair colour were added. 'Music was a vital tool in Egyptian religion to pacify the gods.' To recreate her face, Mr Moraes combined different techniques. First, soft tissue thickness markers were applied to a virtual recreation of Meresamun's skull, guided by data from living donors, revealing the likely shape of her face. Then a technique called anatomical deformation was used, in which a virtual model of a donor's face and skull is warped until it matches the subject's dimensions. The resulting faces were then combined to give a objective reconstruction in greyscale, to which subjective elements like skin tone, and eye and hair colour were added. Mr Moraes said: 'This base face was digitally sculpted to match her estimated age. It was refined with the addition of a wig, pigmentation, and textures, always respecting the original anatomical structure.' Meresamun's remains suggest she died around age 30, though her cause of death is shrouded in mystery. 'She enjoyed good nutrition throughout life. There are no evident signs of disease or an identifiable cause of death,' Mr Moraes said. She may also have been brainier than most, having slightly above-average cranial capacity, though within normal parameters. She was however shorter than her peers, at 1.47m (4ft 10in). Mr Moraes, a Brazilian graphics expert prolific in the field of forensic facial reconstructions, has previously worked with police to recreate and identify the faces of crime victims. Based on his experiences, he's confident that his recreation of Meresamun offers a good likeness. He said: 'The anatomical data was rigorously followed, and the final result is a plausible estimate of Meresamun's appearance. 'I say this with confidence, having worked on real cases with police, including a published academic study where facial approximation contributed to the identification of a crime victim. 'Even so, continuous methodological improvement is essential, and I actively pursue and encourage that effort.' Mr Moraes published his study in the journal OrtogOnLineMag.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Unearth Never-Before-Seen Egyptian Tombs
Local Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed the never-before-seen tombs of Egyptian officials, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced (via The New York Post). The tombs were discovered within the Draʻ Abu el-Naga archaeological site, which is located on the West Bank of the Nile River. Each of them date back to the New Kingdom era, also known as the Egyptian Empire (1550–1077 B.C.). Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that archaeologists were able to positively identify the tombs' occupants thanks to surviving inscriptions.'The mission will continue cleaning and studying the remaining inscriptions in the tombs to gain a deeper understanding of their owners and to study and publish the findings scientifically,' Khaled reported. One tomb, which featured a courtyard and a square hall entrance, was occupied by a man from the Ramesside Period (1292–1069 B.C.) named Amenemopet who worked in a temple dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun. The grave was adorned with intricate hieroglyphics which 'depict scenes of offering sacrifices, a depiction of the funerary furniture procession, and a banquet scene.' 'One belongs to a person named 'Paki,' who worked as a supervisor of the grain silo, and the other to a person named 'Is,' who worked as a supervisor of the Amun temple in the oases, mayor of the northern oases, and a scribe,' the ministry's statement explained. Sherif Fathy, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, believes the new discovery 'enhances Egypt's position on the global cultural tourism map.' He hopes it will drive curiosity about the region, and, hopefully, provide a boost to the tourist economy. 'These discovered tombs are among the sites that will significantly contribute to attracting more visitors, especially those who are fans of cultural tourism, due to their distinctive civilizational and human value,' he Unearth Never-Before-Seen Egyptian Tombs first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2025
New York Post
05-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Archaeologists uncover never-before-seen tombs of ancient Egyptian officials — expected to boost tourism
Several tombs of high-ranking Ancient Egyptian officials were recently uncovered by local archaeologists, shedding new light on a bygone civilization. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery in a Facebook post on May 26. It was translated from Arabic to English. Advertisement The tombs all date to the era of the New Kingdom, also known as the Egyptian Empire. They were found in the Draʻ Abu el-Naga site on the Nile River's West Bank in the Luxor Governorate. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted the names and titles of the decedents have all been identified, thanks to surviving inscriptions. 4 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Facebook 'The mission will continue cleaning and studying the remaining inscriptions in the tombs to gain a deeper understanding of their owners and to study and publish the findings scientifically,' he added. Advertisement The first tomb belonged to a man named Amenemopet from the Ramesside Period, which lasted from 1292 to 1069 B.C. He worked in a temple dedicated to Amun, a highly venerated Egyptian god. 4 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Facebook Most of the hieroglyphics in Amenemopet's tomb were destroyed, but the ministry noted that the remaining ones 'depict scenes of offering sacrifices, a depiction of the funerary furniture procession, and a banquet scene.' Advertisement 'One belongs to a person named 'Paki,' who worked as a supervisor of the grain silo, and the other to a person named 'Is,' who worked as a supervisor of the Amun temple in the oases, mayor of the northern oases, and a scribe,' the statement noted. Amenemopet's tomb also consisted of a small courtyard and an entrance with a square hall. 4 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Facebook The tombs of both Paki and Is also had courtyards, in addition to shafts. Advertisement In a statement, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the discovery 'enhances Egypt's position on the global cultural tourism map.' 'These discovered tombs are among the sites that will significantly contribute to attracting more visitors, especially those who are fans of cultural tourism, due to their distinctive civilizational and human value,' he noted. The discovery comes on the heels of several recent exciting finds in Egypt. 4 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Facebook In April, a University of Pennsylvania professor spoke with Fox News Digital about unearthing the tomb of an unknown pharaoh near Abydos. Earlier in May, officials announced the discovery of ancient military fortifications that dated back to the Ptolemaic and Roman eras of Egyptian history.
