Were coffins transferred from the Saqqara cache to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir?

CAIRO – 18 November 2020: Archaeological discoveries have not stopped during the past few years in Egypt, as the whole world is talking about how much is extracted from its holy ground, and the splendor of the ancient Egyptian civilization that never cease to amaze.

On November 14, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled el-Enani, announced the discovery of 100 delicately colored coffins, and 40 dazzling statues, in the Saqqara antiquities area, in addition to the 59 coffins that were discovered and previously announced on October 13.

Director General of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Sabah Abdel Razek, said that two coffins recently discovered in the Saqqara antiquities area were transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The two coffins were initially exhibited in the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, during the celebration of the 118th anniversary of the establishment of the museum.

Abdel Razek further stated that it is possible that the two sarcophagi will be displayed permanently in Hall 49, which contains a group of sarcophagi from the Ptolemaic period.

This is after the end of the temporary exhibition organized by the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, under the title "Cachettes: Hidden Treasures", in celebration of the 118th anniversary of its establishment.

The latest Saqqara discovery consisted of 100 wooden coffins sealed in great condition inside burial shafts, in addition to 40 gilded statues of the deity Ptah Soker, god of the Saqqara necropolis, 20 wooden boxes of the deity Horus, two statues of Phnomus, one of them is 120 cm in height, and the other is 75 cm in height made of acacia wood.

That is in addition to the unveiling of a number of Ushabti statuettes and amulets, and 4 golden masks of gilded cartonnage.

Egypt’s Minister of Tourism & Antiquities Khaled el-Enany also talked about Saqqara, explaining that it is one of the most important sites of the Memphis necropolis , which is the first capital of Egypt.

It extends from Abu Rawash in the north to Dahshur in the south, pointing out that the Necropolis of Memphis is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in Egypt.

He added that Saqqara is a very large area with around 13 pyramids. Kings, high rank citizens and senior officials were buried there from the ancient era, alongside their families through most eras of ancient Egyptian history (Pharaonic, Greek and Roman).

Saqqara also has a number of ancient monasteries and the largest animal necropolises.

He said that Saqqara is a very rich area that is still full of mysteries that is revealed to the world every now and then. Emphasizing that it is expected with, continued excavations, to find more human and animal tombs.

The minister explained that this new discovery was found at the same place as the previous discoveries, pointing out that it is a continuation of the last discovery that was announced last October, indicating that this is not the end of the discovery and that more will be revealed and announced soon.