Problems of antiquity. Tomb with spells against snake bites found in Egypt
November 12, 15:30 Share:
A tomb whose walls are covered with spells (Photo: Czech Institute of Egyptology)
South of Cairo, archaeologists have discovered an ancient Egyptian tomb containing many magical spells designed to protect the dead from snake bites.
Researchers report that the entrance to the tomb was decorated with both magical spells to protect against snake bites and those that attract reptiles to protect the burial.. Miroslav Barta, director of research at the Czech Institute of Egyptology, called the discovery unique, emphasizing that it was unparalleled due to the unusual focus on snakes.
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Before this discovery, magical sayings against snakebites were known, but their numbers in the tomb of Djehuti-emhatu greatly exceed other finds.. The tomb belonged to Djehuti-emhat, a royal scribe, approximately 2,500 years ago, during the era when Egypt was controlled by the ancient Persians.
Skeletal remains of Djehuti-emhat showed that he died at about 25 years of age and also suffered from severe osteoporosis. Interestingly, others buried in nearby tombs also suffered from osteoporosis, which may indicate they were related.
The sarcophagus of Djehuti-emhat contains texts and engravings, including chapter 178 of the Book of the Dead, which includes spells to help the dead navigate the underworld. The sarcophagus is also decorated with images of Egyptian deities, including the ram-headed god Banebdjedet and the sun god Ra.
Excavations at the site and analysis of the remains continue, providing scientists with additional insights into ancient Egyptian history and religion.
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Read about it in the new issue of NV, available here