Ancient Animal Mummies Found in Egypt

An excavation of the Saqqara Necropolis, south of Cairo, has yielded a large collection of artifacts: animal mummies, wood and bronze statues of Egyptian gods, and much more. This is at the location of the sacred animals necropolis where, last year, the tomb of the 5th Dynasty royal priest Wahtye had been found.

The highlight of the press conference was the announcement of the discovery of five great cat mummies. Cat Scans have confirmed that two are lions based on the size and shape of the bones. The others may have been cubs or other, as yet undetermined, great cats.

Other mummified animals include dozens of mummified cats. There were meticulously mummified scarab beetles, and mummies of cobras and crocodiles. Many wooden statues of birds, cats, and other animals were also unearthed.

The Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El-Enany announced that more than one hundred objects were discovered at the Bubastian necropolis at Saqqara, belonging to the 26th dynasty, dating to the 7th century B.C.E. There were dozens of bronze statuettes of Osiris, 11 statues of Sekhmet–the god who was a lioness, as well as depictions of gods Ptah-Sokar and Neith. Several papyri with drawings of goddess Tawert were found, as well as cobra statues, mummy masks of wood and clay, and faience amulets.

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