60 mummies discovered in Luxor indicate elaborate necropolis
All mummies were identified to be senior officials of the clergy of Amun of Thebes.
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Egypt's city of Luxor
The discovery of two tombs housing around sixty mummies by a team of Spanish archeologists may be evidence that the location where they were buried served as a necropolis.
According to the Spanish news agency Efe, the team led by Francisco Martin-Valentin and Teresa Bedman carried out the archeological mission within the framework of the Vizier Amenhotep Huy Project. They reportedly found the mummies late last year.
According to Martin-Valentin, the two tombs were built after the 18th dynasty (1550-1292 BC) and are linked to Amenhotep-Huy, who served as vizier (high-ranking official) under Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
The newly discovered tombs are housed by the two chambers which both lead to the vizier’s tomb, a chapel comprising 30 columns.
In the mural in front of us, amenhotep huy, African tribes coming to present taxes and gifts to the king. The Egyptian artist succeeded in expressing the gradation of their colors and features, and in distinguishing between the Egyptians (in the last picture) and them.
— 008® (@AhmadTareq25) December 27, 2022
DNA?! pic.twitter.com/u95QYumeRt
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According to the experts, the discovery is "evidence that the vizier’s tomb at some point became a necropolis."
Moreover, all mummies were identified to be "senior officials of the clergy of Amun of Thebes."
Artifacts from the vizier's burial place were placed on display at an exhibition in the Luxor Museum.
The mission is expected to resume at the end of September when the chapel will be restored with the reconstruction of six columns.
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