Snake bite spell protects this 6th century BC tomb in Egypt
Archaeologists at the Czech Institute of Egyptology (CIE) have found an ancient tomb with magic spells that protect the tomb’s occupant against snake bites, Newsweek reported. The tomb was found at an excavation site of Abusir and is dated to the 6th-5th centuries B.C.
Much remains unknown about the history of human civilization in different parts of the world and archaeological sites offer us a chance to peek back in time. Sites like those in Giza are common knowledge, but ongoing archaeological studies help open new chapters of our past.
One such site is the ancient pyramid complex at Abusir, located between Giza and Saqqara; the latter also being a site for a large number of tombs of many Egyptian dignitaries.
Pyramid complex at Abusir
The pyramid complex is located in the western part of Abusir. The archaeological information gathered so far shows that these tombs were the final resting places of high-ranking officials and military commanders from the 26th and 27th Egyptian dynasties.
This is one of the largest cemeteries of shaft tombs found in the region, according to the archaeologists who conducted the studies. Findings from the region are expected to provide information about the turbulent times between the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. when Persian forces began invading the region and many historical changes were taking place in Egypt.
The tomb of Djehutyemhat
The researchers found a medium-sized tomb of a man called Djehutyemhat, who appears to have been a royal scribe. The upper part of the tomb, which surfaces above the ground, has been destroyed but the burial chamber has remained intact after all these years.
A primary shaft connects the surface to the burial chamber located almost 50 feet (15.24 m) under the ground. The chamber is decorated with various texts and artwork, including the ceiling that bears depictions of the Sun journeying across the sky and hymns in its name.
The southern and western walls have bearings of offerings, a ritual during those times. The northern wall has a long sequence of spells, which are meant to protect the occupier from snake bites. In those days, venomous snakes were common, but in addition to being deadly, they were also considered protectors of the deceased.
The burial chamber contains a large stone sarcophagus that has hieroglyphic inscriptions and depictions of gods. Some of the recognized inscriptions are from the Book of the Dead – which contains texts about Egyptian funerary and are aimed at helping the deceased in the afterlife.
The sarcophagus also has depictions of Egyptian goddesses Isis and Nephthys, who protect the dead, and Imentet, goddess of the West, the Newsweek report added. However, none of these protections helped Djehutyemhat in his tomb, which appears to have been raided as early as the 5th century A.D., and most artifacts were stolen.
The mummy of Djehutyemhat was also missing but the researchers found scattered bone remains closer to the sarcophagus. Analysis of these remains showed that Djehutyemhat was approximately 25 years of age when he died. His bone samples showed signs of osteoporosis and wear on the spine, a likely complication of his condition and the sedentary nature of his work.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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Snake bite spell protects this 6th century BC tomb in Egypt