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Archaeology & History

Mystery surrounds giant Egyptian sarcophagus

By T.K. Randall
July 13, 2018 · Comment icon 167 comments

What's inside this sarcophagus ? Image Credit: Facebook / Egypt Ministry of Antiquities
The huge black granite sarcophagus was unearthed in Alexandria and nobody yet knows what's inside it.
Measuring a whopping 9ft long, 5ft wide and 6ft tall, the casket, which was unearthed at a building site following a preliminary inspection by a team from Egypt's antiquities ministry, is believed to be the largest sarcophagus ever found in the city.

Dating back around 2,000 years, the coffin was found covered in a thick layer of mortar, suggesting that it hasn't been opened since it was first buried in the ground. If this turns out to be the case, then there is a chance that it contains, not only human remains, but priceless artefacts as well.

An alabaster head, which may depict the deceased, was also found in the tomb.
Some have speculated that, due to the time period in which it was buried, there is a chance that the sarcophagus may contain the body of someone connected to Alexander the Great.

The reason for its enormous size however continues to remain something of an enigma.

It will be interesting to see what is found inside when the casket is opened in the near future.

Update - Giant Egyptian sarcophagus has been opened

Source: Live Science | Comments (167)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #158 Posted by Seti42 6 years ago
My guess is, runoff water leaked in, and couldn't escape. I don't think it was sewage...I think it was mummy stew. Ick. Outside the sarcophagus, it could drain and/or evaporate. Also, gold amulets have been found. https://twitter.com/luxortimes
Comment icon #159 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
Wouldn't the dirt around it have smelled also?
Comment icon #160 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
Links I found said there were no amulets found. https://www.************/tech/6819115/sarcophagus-egypt-opened-mummy-curse/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6075691/Egypt-reveals-details-skeletons-inside-sarcophagus.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/black-sarcophagus-egypt-archaeologists-age-mummies-alexandira-waziri-sultan-a8499696.html
Comment icon #161 Posted by justin3651 6 years ago
.
Comment icon #162 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
Thinking about these pictures. If that's a sewer and some type of pipe, look how close they came to this sarcophagus when they installed them. They would have needed to dig that area out well. Weren't there things found outside, like a marble bust. Just a thought.
Comment icon #163 Posted by Swede 6 years ago
Of interest: https://www.livescience.com/63384-black-sarcophagus-alexandria-inions.html .
Comment icon #164 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
This is interesting. The hole drilled in the skull of the male showed signs of having healed long before death. Since it was rarely done in Egypt, could that indicate travel or wealth? This is the first I've heard of the engravings. Interesting indeed!
Comment icon #165 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
If it was Roman, it would have been installed after the Ptolemy's. The sarcophagus is believe to have been buried between 304 BC to 30 BC, when Cleopatra died. Rome attained Egypt on her death.
Comment icon #166 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
No masks until after the sarcophagus was opened. There was no mention of an odor until then although it was uncovered 2 weeks before it was opened.
Comment icon #167 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
I see your points seanjo, but the pit wasn't opened that long and deep enough to be out of direct sunlight. Just still have questions about the sewage.


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