Recently Unearthed Mausoleum of Egyptian Priestess Reveals Previously Undervalued Time Period
After two decades of exploration in the Gebel Asyut al-Gharbi mountains close to Asyut city, a group of archaeologists has unveiled an extraordinary discovery from a relatively obscure time period in ancient Egypt: a 3,900-year-old burial chamber belonging to a priestess named Idy.
Among the funerary items, the archaeologists unearthed two intricately carved wooden sarcophagi bearing inscriptions that referenced Idy as a high priestess of the goddess Hathor. She was also referred to as the "Lady of the House," a title indicating her family's prestige. According to a press release from the Free University of Berlin, the discovery of the burial chamber, which included an abundance of texts, is a major archaeological finding that will allow scholars to gain additional insights into the roles of women and knowledge transfer in ancient Egyptian society.
Archeologists found Idy's tomb inside a hidden side chamber within the 1880 BCE tomb of her father, Djefaihapi I, who held the position of the regional governor of the old city of Asyut. Despite previous looting of the chamber, archaeologists were still able to retrieve grave goods such as wooden figurines, a dagger, pharaonic insignia, and food offerings. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery via a Facebook post last month.
The two sarcophagi are nestled within each other, consisting of imported wood and embellished with stunningly detailed depictions of the journey to the afterlife. Although the decorations align with the styles of her father's tomb, they are extravagant for the period, as stated in the press release. It was reported that Djefaihapi I was also worshipped after his death, and his rock-cut tomb—standing at 11 meters tall, 28 meters deep, and 70 meters wide—remained a cultural landmark for over 2,000 years.
Idy's remains, including skeletal and textile fragments, were discovered alongside canopic jars containing inscribed chests carrying her organs (such as the liver, spleen, lungs, and intestines) that were removed during the mummification process. This enabled scientists to estimate that the ancient priestess passed away around age 40.
The researchers discovered the chamber in the necropolis of ancient Asyut, where they aim to shed light on the city's early cultural significance. Asyut was a significant political and cultural center during ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom (a period extending from approximately 2030 to 1650 BCE) and was strategically positioned midway between ancient Memphis and Thebes, according to the researchers. Due to the city being submerged beneath Nile flood sediments and modern urban development, it has not received the attention of better-known sites like Thebes or Luxor.
Many Middle Kingdom monuments were repurposed or damaged after being plundered by thieves, resulting in a lack of physical evidence for archaeologists. Consequently, the almost four-century-long history of the Middle Kingdom is often overlooked in academic discussions.
The team shared their findings from Idy's burial chamber with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism. It is expected that this discovery will contribute to the academic resurgence of Asyut, as well as bring attention to this lesser-known period in history.
In light of thishistorical find, future researchers will likely explore the impact of women's roles in knowledge transfer during ancient Egyptian society. Furthermore, the advancement in technology and scientific analysis used in unearthing Idy's tomb has opened up new possibilities for studying the Middle Kingdom era.
