Dutch team finds 'heretic Pharaoh' era tomb in Egypt
CAIRO -- Dutch archaeologists have discovered a tomb in the Saqqara necropolis from the time of Egypt's monotheistic pharaoh Akhenaton some 3,300 years ago, the Supreme Council of Antiquities has said.
The discovery shows that notables contemporary with Akhenaton continued to be buried in Saqqara, just outside the modern day capital of Cairo, indicating the enduring importance of old religious orthodoxy under "the heretic pharaoh"...
The tomb, which bears the royal cartouche for "Ptah Am Waya" is covered with wall paintings done in the realistic style of the period when classic artistic conventions were abandoned.
The wall paintings include those of "Ptah" going to the afterlife as well scenes of daily life, such as monkeys eating dates.
The Dutch team has been working in Saqqara since the 1990s, and focuses on New Kingdom tombs, particularly those from Akhenaton. Previously they discovered the tomb of the Akhenaton-era priest Meri Neet.
Read entire article at AFP
The discovery shows that notables contemporary with Akhenaton continued to be buried in Saqqara, just outside the modern day capital of Cairo, indicating the enduring importance of old religious orthodoxy under "the heretic pharaoh"...
The tomb, which bears the royal cartouche for "Ptah Am Waya" is covered with wall paintings done in the realistic style of the period when classic artistic conventions were abandoned.
The wall paintings include those of "Ptah" going to the afterlife as well scenes of daily life, such as monkeys eating dates.
The Dutch team has been working in Saqqara since the 1990s, and focuses on New Kingdom tombs, particularly those from Akhenaton. Previously they discovered the tomb of the Akhenaton-era priest Meri Neet.