- Title: EGYPT: TWO NEW TOMBS DISCOVERED BESIDE THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA
- Date: 3rd November 1997
- Summary: GIZA, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 5, 1997) (RTV) 1. LV PAN CHEFREN PYRAMID; DIBHEN TOMB 0.08 2. SLV TOMB WITH CHEFREN PYRAMID IN BACKGROUND 0.17 3. SLV ENTRANCE TO TOMB 0.21 4. SCU HIEROGLYPHICS ON TOMB'S ENTRANCE 0.26 5. SLV INTERIOR OF DIBHEN TOMB/ ARCHAEOLOGIST WALKING THROUGH PASSAGE 0.35 6. SCU ARCHAEOLOGIST POINTING AT HIEROGLYPHIC DRAWINGS ON WALL (2 SHOTS) 0.47 7. CU SEVERAL HIEROGLYPIC DRAWINGS OF DIBHEN THE OWNER OF TOMB (4 SHOTS) 1.12 8. SLV PAN CHAMBER/ PASSAGE WHICH LEADS TO BURIAL CHAMBER (2 SHOTS) 1.43 9. SLV BURIAL CHAMBER 1.51 10. SCU INTERIOR SARCOPHAGUS IN BURIAL CHAMBER 1.58 11. SCU PROFESSOR ZAHI HAWAS SAYING "BUT THERE IS SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING IN THIS TOMB. DOBHEN SAID IN THE INSCRIPTION THAT MENKAURE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HURR PYRAMID. IT'S A MYSTERY. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE HURR PYRAMID. WHAT KIND OF PYRAMID WAS THAT ? THIS TOMB IS GOING TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME A QUESTION WHERE IS THE PYRAMID OF HURR AND ALSO THAT THIS IS A TOMB FOR A COMMON MAN BUILT IN THE PYRAMID OF MENKAURE" (ENGLISH) 2.26 12. GV PERSON RIDING CAMEL ON HORIZON OF DESERT 2.31 13. GV ZOOM IN EXTERIOR VIEWS OF SECOND TOMB 2.40 14. SLV ARCHAEOLOGIST AT ENTRANCE TO THE SECOND TOMB CLIMBING IN/STANDING INSIDE ENTRANCE (2 SHOTS) 2.58 Initials S3/2 P3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 18th November 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: GIZA PLATEAU, GIZA, EGYPT
- City:
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVADL93J4DUPJ1BXG44PZR0ODOKC
- Story Text: - INTRO: Egypt has announced plans open to the public two tombs at the Giza pyramids near the capital Cairo. The tombs have lain under sand since they were found some 40 years ago.
Pyramid director Professor Zahi Hawass said in Cairo on Monday (November 3), that the tombs would be opened to the public for the first time in December.
Architects and archaeologists have restored the inscriptions and carvings and built stairs and limestone ceilings to prepare the tombs for the public to see.
An inscription in one of the tombs to be opened, included an intriguing reference to an unknown pyramid. The tomb was that of a commoner named Dibhen.
Professor Hawas explained, "Dibhen said in the inscription that Menkaure (Mycerinas) was standing in front of the Hurr Pyramid.
It's a mystery. We do not know what is the meaning of the Hurr Pyramid." The pyramid of Mycerinas is the smallest of the three pyramids that have stood for 4,600 years at Giza.
Hawas said Dibhen had won the favour of Pharaoh Mycerinas, who had helped him build his tomb, in the shadow of the royal pyramid, using limestone from a royal quarry.
The other tomb to be opened is that of Queen Khenthawes, the daughter of Mycerinas.
At the time of discovery the tomb of Khenthawes was called the fourth pyramid at Giza because it's built with a big core topped with limestone.
Hawas also said that on the east side of the tomb there is a small funeral temple and a pyramid city with houses for the priestesses who maintained Queen Khenthawes' cult.
Egyptian archaeologist Selim Hassan excavated the tombs in the 1950s, but left the area covered with big banks of sand.
Egypt is a treasure trove of tombs and temples that draw millions of tourists each year and provides important foreign exchange revenue for the country.
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