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A Greco-Roman sarcophagus recently discovered in Cairo - Source: Reuters -
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Egyptian archaeologists carrying out excavations at the site of
a planned youth centre have found 14 tombs dating back to the third
century BC, including one with a female mummy adorned with
jewellery.
The Greco-Roman tombs, in Bahariya Oasis, 300 km southwest of
Cairo, were discovered during probes that indicated they may be
part of a much larger necropolis, Egypt's Culture Ministry said in
a statement.
A 97-cm tall female mummy, found in the stair-lined interior of one
of the rock-hewn tombs, was cast in coloured plaster inlaid with
jewellery and eyes.
Archaeologists, who dug at the site ahead of the planned
construction of a youth centre, found the tombs contained other
treasures as well.
The area has now been turned over to Egypt's antiquities
authority.
"Early investigations uncovered four anthropoid masks made of
plaster, a gold fragment decorated with engravings of the four sons
of Horus, and a collection of coins, and clay and glass vessels,"
the ministry's statement quoted Egypt's chief archaeologist Zahi
Hawass as saying.
The four sons of Horus - Imsety, Duamutef, Hapi and Qebehsenuef -
were ancient Egyptian gods.
The engravings show the influence of Egyptian religion well into
the Greco-Roman period.
The gods were believed to protect the stomach, liver, intestines
and lungs of mummified bodies.
Bahariya Oasis is home to Egypt's famed Valley of the Golden
Mummies, where a collection of 17 tombs with about 254 mummies was
discovered in 1996.
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