Ptah-M-Wia discovery reveals senior leader in Ramses II's era

Historian and researcher Mr Ahmed Nour El Din commended the archaeologists for the serious work carried on in discovering the empty, 3,200-year-old sarcophagus of

Historian and researcher Mr Ahmed Nour El Din commended the archaeologists for the serious work carried on in discovering the empty, 3,200-year-old sarcophagus of Ptah-M-Wia, a high-ranking New-Kingdom official.

Over the phone to (Breakfast Show), he added that the tomb was discovered in Saqqara. The tomb is located in a section of Saqqara that houses the burials of prominent New Kingdom officials. Saqqara served as a burial ground for Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital, for more than 3,000 years, he illustrated.

He shed light on Ptah-M-Wia who was Ramses II’s Chief Treasurer who held multiple administrative titles during the reign of the great king. He was the local guard of Memphis, the cemetery of the first capital of Egypt from the beginning of the first dynasty, he added. The discovered sarcophagus is covered with texts and symbols connected with God Osiris, the symbol of eternity, the historian said, referring that Ptah was also in charge of divine offerings to all the gods of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Noureddin elaborated that the four sons of god Horus were also represented. The sarcophagus is inscribed with emblems of deities, including the sky goddess Nut on the lid, covering the chest with opened wings to protect the deceased. Though the cover of the sarcophagus was broken which means that it was stolen before, yet its colours were still bright.

Sakkara is full of archaeological discoveries from the pharaonic and the Roman Greek period as well as the animals’ cemetery.

(Breakfast Show) is aired daily. This episode is presented by Amal Mokhtar.