Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Sakkara. They have found a 16-meter-long Book of the Dead papyrus in a tomb that belonged to a high-ranking individual over 2,300 years ago. The Book of the Dead was a collection of spells, incantations, and personal prayers that were meant to appease underworld gods and demons, ensuring that the deceased had an easier transition into the afterlife. These hieroglyphic texts were usually written on long papyrus scrolls and placed in a special container inside the sarcophagus. The discovery of this papyrus is considered an important source of information about the beliefs of ancient Egypt.
Sakkara is a necropolis near Cairo where kings, queens, and other notable figures were buried in pyramids and other large tombs over 5,000 years ago. From around 1550 BC, high-ranking officials and priests were buried in the necropolis. In recent years, hundreds of graves and sarcophagi have been excavated in Sakkara. The 16-meter-long Book of the Dead papyrus was discovered in a tomb south of the Djoser Step Pyramid at the end of 2022. It was found inside a sarcophagus that dates back to 712-332 BC. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, this is the first complete Book of the Dead papyrus to be discovered in the necropolis in the last 100 years.
The papyrus has already been translated into Arabic and treated for conservation. It will be kept in the new Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The identity of the individual to whom the papyrus belonged will be announced soon, according to Mostafa Waziri, the Secretary-General of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority. This discovery is a significant contribution to our understanding of ancient Egyptian beliefs and practices surrounding death and the afterlife.
