Egypt is said to be the cradle of civilization, where all forms of cultural heritage could be traced to there origin. With that said, well…, you’ve might have seen several discovery shows of archaeologists digging for ancient relics and antiquities. And…, uh, you remember the adventures of Indiana Jones and the last crusaders well in the 20th century. Dear friends, let’s introduce you to the pharaoh Rameses II — whose tomb has been recently discovered in Saqqara.
Related media: Secrets Of The Saqqara Tomb|Official Trailer
Once Upon A Tomb
On October 30, 2021, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities officially announced the discovery of a tomb which dates back over 3,200 years ago. It was the tomb of a senior official of one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs who was laid to rest at Serapeum of Saqqara, Egypt, approximately 27 kilometers (17 miles) south from the great pyramids of Giza, and 32 kilometers (20 miles) away from the heart of Cairo.
The recent discovery which was led by professor Ola Al-Ajizi, an archaeologist at the University of Cairo, found the tomb of the Pharaoh Rameses II at Saqqara. The tomb showcased wall paintings, with the best preserved shows of cattle and other animals being led to the slaughter. There were several other inscription found in the tomb, including one that says Ptah-M-Wia was the person buried there.
Ptah-M-Wia held a number of position including the head of the treasury and chief supervisor of livestock. This was during the reign of the pharaoh Rameses II — from 1279 – 1213 Before the Common Era (B.C.E), who also expanded the territory of Egypt’s dominion as far as present-day Syria. The tomb also depicted several engravings of a man — possibly Ptah-M-Wia — shown sitting beside several jars and an object that seems like a horn.
Whence Cometh Tomb Raiders?
Ptah-M-Wia was head of the treasury centuries before the invention of minted coins, during which ancient Egyptians barter traded items with goods, rations, and precious metals and stones. But Rameses II was best known for his architectural endeavors including the construction and expansion of the Karnak Temple, according to archaeologists from the Egyptian ministry.
From the tomb of Ptah-M-Wia, archaeologists discovered a series of wall paintings depicting people leading cattle and other animals to be slaughtered. These depictions were evidence that Ptah-M-Wia held the position as livestock supervisor. There were also several hieroglyphs found in the tomb and other temples that indicate ritual sacrifices.
However, there were no depictions of human sacrifice nor were there human remains found inside the tomb so far. Archaeologists are currently analyzing these hieroglyphs if possible, that among his duties as livestock supervisor, Ptah-M-Wia was also in charge of making “divine sacrifices,” too.
Who Says Tomb Raiders Aren’t Real
One of the temples built by Rameses II at Thebes (present-day Luxor) was where these hieroglyphs were discovered. There are several temples Rameses II built or expanded at Thebes during his reign, and researchers are still not sure which ones Ptah-M-Wiamade sacrifices. Excavation are still ongoing as we speak, and researchers are convinced to even discover more. Saqqara is home to several archaeological sites, including the 4,700-year-old Step Pyramid of Djoser.
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Written by: Nana Kwadwo, Sat, Nov 06, 2021.
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