The Egyptian Ministry of Culture on Wednesday announced that archaeologists had discovered a 2600-year-old burial chamber while restoring the tomb of a priest of the ancient Egyptian god Amun on the west bank of Luxor, some 700 km south of the capital.
The chamber, which was discovered by an Egyptian-American archaeological mission, belonged to a priest by the name of Car-Akh-Amon who lived during the 25th dynasty (755-656 BC).
Amun–god of the sun, wind and fertility–was one of the chief deities in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. His name means “The Invisible One.”
The chamber, found at the bottom of an eight-meter-deep shaft, is in good condition. Colorful paintings on its walls portray the priest, while the ceiling contains cosmic scenes of the deceased in the company of the gods, including ancient Egyptian sky goddess Nut.
The tomb was first discovered in the nineteenth century, but was later lost again under layers of sand and debris. It was re-discovered in 2006 with the launch of archaeological excavations and restoration projects in the southern part of Al-Assasif necropolis.
Assasif is one of the most important archaeological sites in the west bank of Luxor, where the tombs of numerous ancient Egyptian nobles are located. It contains the final resting places of high officials from the middle and late dynasties, especially the 26th dynasty.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
