The tombs of senior ancient Egyptian officials were recently rediscovered in Saqqara, the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced earlier this week.
The tombs include those belonging to two senior ancient Egyptian officials, “Sabu” and his son “Ptahshepses.”
Sabu’s tomb is located north of his son’s tomb and measures to about 54 × 28 meters, with an estimated original height of about five meters.
Alongside the recovery of the tombs, archaeologists discovered for the first time the offering chapel of Sabu’s wife, “Iykhet-nefret” (Ikhet-nefret), as well as Ptahshepses’ burial chamber and limestone sarcophagus.
Sabu and Ptahshepses’s tombs had originally been discovered between 1858 and 1860 by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service. However, Mariette’s excavations were limited and lacked comprehensive documentation.
Since, the Old Kingdom tombs have since been recovered by sand, prompting renewed efforts to locate and study them. Current excavations of the sites are being conducted by the Czech Institute of Egyptology.
Relocating the tomb had been accomplished with the help of satellite imagery and field surveys, explained Dr. Miroslav Bárta, who heads the Czech archaeological mission.
Among the most notable finds was the first-time discovery of Iykhet-nefret’s offering chapel, Barta added, along with a false door bearing scenes of her together with her husband and their two sons, Ptahshepses and Ranefer.
As well, Barta noted that the exterior façades of Sabu’s tomb mimic those found decorating royal palaces, while the offering chapel contains well-preserved relief carvings depicting Sabu and Ptahshepses supervising processions of those bearing offerings.
Ptahshepses held high rank during reigns of several pharoahs
Separately, Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that Ptahshepses’ burial chamber had been discovered by the Czech team on the eastern side of the tomb.
According to Badie, Ptahshepses is believed to have held high ranking positions during the reigns of four Fifth Dynasty pharoahs: Sahure, Neferirkare, Raneferef, and Nyuserre.
He explained that, according to archaeological studies, Ptahshepses is considered the first official from outside the royal family to marry an Egyptian princess, reflecting the high standing he enjoyed during that period.
Ptahshepses is believed to have married Princess Khamaat, daughter of Pharoah Userkaf, founder of the Fifth Dynasty.
The tomb was unfortunately looted of its valuables, said Dr. Mohamed Mujahid, though noted that Ptahshepses’ mummy was untouched.
According to an analysis of the remains, Ptahshepses had died at an age older than 60, which fits in line with historical record.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy praised the work of the Czech mission, which helped reveal more details about the religious and social life, and funerary architecture during the Old Kingdom.
