Thirty of the coffins, discovered two months after excavations halted by the coronavirus resumed, were presented at the Saqqara Necropolis, dedicated to thegoddess Bastet, with the presence of 43 ambassadors and over 200 journalists from across the world.
The coffins are believed to belong to the 26th Dynasty (664-525 BC), the last that ruled Egypt before the Persian conquest, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, told the journalists.
He, alongside prominent Egyptologist Zahi Hawas and the Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anani, opened two sealed coffins in front of the journalists.
Inside thetombs there were two mummies covered with cloth and gold ornaments in perfect condition.
All the mummies belong to ancient Egyptian high priests and officials who lived in the ancient capital of Memphis, something unusual in this location, where mummified animals are commonly found, according to Waziri.
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Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled al-Anany (C) looks at one of the sarcophagi discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. EFE
The tomb, a vertical grave more than 11 meters deep, contains more sarcophagi that have not yet been brought to the surface.
They are believed to belong to "the lovers, relatives and neighbors" of a priest who decided to bury his body "as close as possible” to the temple of the goddess Bastet, according to Waziri.
They have also discovered 28 statues of the god Ptah, protector of the dead and patron of blacksmiths. He is usually associated with Osiris because of his falcon appearance.
The excavation missionbegan in April 2018, when dozens of mummified animals were discovered, the most prominent being beetles and lion cubs.
People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. EFE
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During the 2021 season, the Egyptian authorities hope to find dozens of other sarcophagi, in addition to other relics, in these well-like tombs, which have different levels that can reach a depth of up to 12 meters.
The mummies will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the Giza Pyramids, while the other statues are to be displayed in different exhibits, the minister said.
Al-Anani, who was thrilled with the discovery, took heart that the archaeological work has continued "despite Covid-19", always with preventive health measures and with a clear objective: "to impress the world".
EFE-EPA
