For many tourists, Egypt is a synonym for all-inclusive resorts and pyramids. And indeed, the Red Sea is a delight to visit, with Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh popular holiday destinations. However, Egypt is much more than that, as it is a cradle of ancient civilization, whose advances impress even our society, spoiled with devices and technologies.
The Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo is the last attraction standing from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and frankly it deserves that status. And it’s a shame the Lighthouse of Alexandria is no longer standing, structurally damaged by earthquakes, and lost into the sea until last century. It’s estimated to have stood 330 ft (the Magdalen Tower is the tallest structure in Oxford at 144 feet).
To say the country is full of wonders, is an understatement. Even if you go for the beaches and not much of a history buff, Luxor in the Nile Valley boasts an incredible collection of historical Egyptian sites such as the Temple of Karnak, Valley of the Kings, and Luxor Temple.
Egypt has been an international archaeological site of interest for as long as we have been filling the British Museum with plundered treasures. The excavations have been on for more than 200 years, yet there seems to be no end to discoveries, which provide us with a better understanding and insights into the way people lived. With every new discovery, we unearth more fascinating history of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
And we are incredibly lucky to have the Ashmolean Museum’s extensive collection of 50,000 objects from ancient Egypt and Sudan. These cover every period of human occupation in the Nile Valley from prehistory to the 7th century AD, thanks to British and Oxford University excavations in Egypt conducted from the 1880s until the late 1930s.
Let’s have a look at the latest discoveries.
A New Tomb Complex In Saqqara
The Saqqara Necropolis is located in Cairo, and it’s home to the oldest Egyptian pyramids (the Step Pyramid of Djoser). It is the biggest archaeological site in the country and a goldmine for archaeologists.
In 2023, Dutch and Italian archaeologists uncovered a 3200-year-old tomb, which is supposedly attributed to the steward of Pharaoh Ramses II – Amun.
The tomb complex is a remarkable witness to ancient civilization and its unsurpassed mastery. It is a sacred place of memory, yet also a piece of art, which impresses with its greatness – the colonnaded courtyard, subterranean burial chambers, chapels, and stone images of rituals and religious practices.
The tomb discovery adds another ‘brick’ to our understanding of ancient Egyptian society and its hierarchical structures.
The Mummy of Teenage Pregnant Girl
The mummy was found in the Egyptian city of Kharga, dating back to 400 BC, writes TravelWise. The mummy let the osteoarchaeologistі define the complications the girl had while being in labor. The body was traditionally mummified (covered with lots of salt) in the El Bagawat cemetery.
The mummy provides scientists with insights into the burial practices of ordinary citizens, as well as the health issues and life span. It helps to see the big picture of the ancient civilization and its life.
Matriya Sun Temple Remains
Matriya Sun Temple is located in Heliopolis near Cairo, the ‘City of Sun’, the cultural center of Atum – the god of the Sun. The Sun Temple excavations are still in progress, uncovering more details about the predynastic city. This time the archaeologists discovered traces of white ash and limestone flooring, mud-brick structures, quartzite stones, and to-be-identified royal statues.
Wrapped-in-Gold Mummy
According to archaeologists, it is the oldest and most ‘preserved’ mummy they have ever found covered in gold leaf; discovered near Cairo in a sealed limestone sarcophagus in 2023. The mummy is 4300 years old; supposedly, it is a man called Hekashepes.
As it is one of the oldest preserved mummies found, it allows researchers to analyse the dietary habits and health conditions of Egyptian society in its earlier periods of development.
And these are just some of many treasure trove of discoveries in Egypt last year. Archaeologists keep revealing the complicated mysteries of the past, which help to understand the present and get valuable insights into the way people lived in the prehistoric times.
The ancient beauty of Egyptian civilization never fails to amaze us with the skilfulness and genius of the engineering minds of their time. Don’t miss a chance to join the guided tours and immerse yourself in the history.
