Two 2,500-year-old tombs of man and woman unearthed in Egypt


Nada El Sawy
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A Spanish archaeological mission has unearthed two tombs containing the remains of a man and woman dating back 2,500 years in El Bahnasa, about 220 kilometres south of Cairo.

Three gold foil amulets in the shape of tongues inside the mouths of human remains were also found, said Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

This is very important, because it's rare to find a tomb that is totally sealed
Esther Pons Melado,
co-director of Spanish archaeological mission

One of the tombs from the Saite dynasty, a late period of ancient Egypt up to 525BC, was discovered completely sealed.

“This is very important, because it’s rare to find a tomb that is totally sealed,” Esther Pons Melado, co-director of the archaeological mission of Oxyrhynchus, told The National.

Contents of two 2,500-year-old tombs were discovered in Middle Egypt. Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Contents of two 2,500-year-old tombs were discovered in Middle Egypt. Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The University of Barcelona set up the mission at Oxyrhynchus, the ancient name of El Bahnasa in El Minya governorate, as long ago as 1992.

Inside the sealed tomb was a limestone male sarcophagus with a mummy in a good state of preservation, four canopic jars, amulets such as the scarab and about 400 ushabti funerary figurines made of faience.

The second tomb of the woman had been opened in ancient times and the remains were not in good condition, Ms Melado said.

The three golden tongues found outside the tombs include one belonging to a 3-year-old child and two in the mouths of adults. They date to the Roman period in Egypt, starting in 30BC.

In February, golden tongues were discovered at the temple of Taposiris Magna near Alexandria. The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry has said that the tongues were meant to help the deceased converse with Osiris, the ancient Egyptian god of the dead, on their way to the afterlife.

Some of the artefacts unearthed at Oxyrhynchus, the ancient name of El Bahnasa. Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Some of the artefacts unearthed at Oxyrhynchus, the ancient name of El Bahnasa. Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Ms Melado said golden tongues have been found in only Alexandria and El Bahnasa, including 11 discovered “some years ago” and now on display in museums.

She has led the archaeological mission with co-director Maite Mascort since 2019 and the excavation team of 14 comes from Spain, Italy, France, the US and Egypt.

“There have been many discoveries in the area over the last 30 years,” Hassan Amer, the mission’s excavation director and professor in the Greco-Roman department at Cairo University’s faculty of archaeology, told The National.

In May 2020, the mission discovered a cemetery from the Saite period, as well as eight Roman-era tombs.

Oxyrhynchus is considered one of Egypt's most important archaeological sites. In the late 19th century, archaeologists discovered a huge collection of papyrus scrolls dating from the Ptolemaic kingdom and the Roman period.

“It’s also very important to see the type of Saite tombs and compare with other Saite tombs in Saqqara or Tanis,” Mr Amer said.

The discovery of dozens of sealed coffins in October last year, most with mummies inside, was made at the Saqqara necropolis.

The latest find is one of many archaeological discoveries that Egypt has publicised recently to help revive its tourism sector, which has not fully recovered since the 2011 uprising and has suffered more recently from the coronavirus pandemic.

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Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

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Profile of VoucherSkout

Date of launch: November 2016

Founder: David Tobias

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers

Sector: Technology

Size: 18 employees

Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake

Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars” 

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

Scores

Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)

Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.

Ponti

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About Housecall

Date started: July 2020

Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech

# of staff: 10

Funding to date: Self-funded

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
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New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
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SPECS
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It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

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Singles match
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
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7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)

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Date Started: September 2018

Founders: Walid and Karim Dib

Based: Abu Dhabi

Employees: Nine

Amount raised: $1.2 million

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers

 

If you go...

Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).

Updated: December 06, 2021, 3:36 PM`