Tomb of royal scribe unearthed in Egypt

Washington, April 15(ANI): Archaeologists have found a burial tomb of an ancient royal scribe at a spot near Ismailia, east of Cairo, Egypt.

The crypt is built of mud bricks and has rectangular room with a domed ceiling made of stone, and a deep square-shaped shaft.

A large limestone sarcophagus covered with inscriptions was found inside the chamber.

"It belonged to Ken Amun. He was the overseer of the royal records during the 19th Dynasty," Discovery News quoted Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maqsud, the supervisor of the Department of Antiquities of Lower Egypt, as saying in a statement.

The tomb's walls had the titles of the deceased and the names of his wife, Isis, etched on it. It revealed she was a singer of the god Atum.

Also, the tomb has scenes from the Book of the Dead, which end with the famous vignettes from Chapter 125, depicting the critical judgment ceremony called 'Weighing of the Heart', inscribed on it.

The ceremony apparently involved weighing and comparing the deceased's heart to a feather of Maat, goddess of Justice, Truth and Order.

According to myth, if the heart of the deceased is lighter than the feather, he is worthy of the company of the gods. But if it isn't, then the crocodile-headed monster Ammit devours it and the deceased is condemned to an existence between worlds.

Another important scene in the tomb was a figure of the goddess Hathor in the shape of a cow, as she emerges from the Delta marshes.

Also, a scene of the four sons of Horus-Imsety, Duamutef, Hapi and Qebehsenuef, who were believed to protect the stomach, liver, intestines and lungs of mummified bodies, is inscribed on the crypt.

Maqsud said: "The scenes and titles in the tomb show that Ken-Amun, who in charge of keeping the royal records, was an important man."

Experts hope to learn more information about the history of the Delta and the relationship between this area and the eastern border of Egypt, through the discovery.

A total of 35 other Roman-period tombs have been uncovered close to the same location. (ANI)