- Title: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC: PHARAOHNIC MUMMIES DISCOVERED AS TOMBS ARE OPENED.
- Date: 31st December 1965
- Summary: ONE OF THE STEP PYRAMIDS (THE FIRST PYRAMIDS TO BE BUILT) AT SAKKARA, WORKERS FROM THE U.A.R. ANTIQUITIES DEPARTMENT RECOVERING VARIOUS OBJECTS, AND MUMMIES AND COFFINS. Initials JT/VS/WH/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 15th January 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SAKKARA, UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVASHPO9LGD3LXWBY28IMZ7KJYG
- Story Text: FRESH SECRETS OF LIFE UNDER THE PHARAOHS IN ANCIENT EGYPT CAME TO LIFE THIS WEEK WITH THE OPENING OF TWO TOMBS. MUMMIES, ENGRAVINGS AND OTHER OBJECTS WERE DISCOVERED AT SAKKARA, NEAR CAIRO, THE SITE OF EGYPT'S EARLIEST KNOWN CIVILISATION.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE TOMBS -- ONE LEADING INTO THE OTHER -- WAS MADE BY THE ANTIQUITIES DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT BY THE FIFTH DYNASTY, WHICH RULED EGYPT ABOUT 4000 YEARS AGO.
A PASSAGE RUNNING BENEATH THE TOMBS IS THOUGHT TO CONTAIN UP TO 2000 MUMMIES. AMONG THE 50 THAT HAVE BEEN RECOVERED SO FAR ARE THE COFFINS OF A ROYAL COURT JEWELLER AND A PHARAOH'S CATTLE-BREEDER.
(MEANWHILE, IT IS REPORTED THAT AN EVEN OLDER DISCOVERY COULD BE MADE SOON. THREE STATUES FOUND IN THE CAIRO SUBURB OF HELIOPOLIS COULD LEAD TO THE UNEARTHING OF A 5000-YEAR-OLD TOWN SITE.)
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