More than 80 ancient tombs found in Egypt some with death certificates written in ancient Greek
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
The tombs date from the time of the Ancient Kingdom of Egypt to the Ptolemaic Dynasty - Archaeologists have also uncovered a brick tower built to oversee borders, collect taxes and ensure navigation
The archeological dig brought to light 85 tombs in the province of Sohag, as announced today by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt. These are tombs dating from the period of the Ancient Kingdom of Egypt about 4,500 years ago, to the Ptolemaic Dynasty that ruled from 305 BC. until 30 BC
The archeological expedition in the area of Gabal El Haridi, located 350 kilometers south of Cairo, discovered next to the mummies 30 death certificates with detailed information about the dead (such as name, profession, age and parents' names), written in ancient Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphics, according to the ministry announcement.
Some of the tombs had been carved into a hillside and some had corridors leading to the burial chambers.
Archaeologists have also unearthed a brick tower dating to the time of Ptolemy III, the third pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty, who ruled from 246 BC. until 222 BC.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the tower was built to monitor the border, collect taxes and ensure navigation on the Nile River.
The ruins of a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, which was 33 meters long and 14 meters wide, also stand out from the findings.
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