The pyramids of ancient Egypt give a majestic impression. They are art museums and treasure troves of mysteries. However, in addition to the visible pyramids, more secrets of ancient Egypt may be buried under the sand. What are the unsolved mysteries under the yellow sand waiting for people to discover?
The Unpredictable Pyramid
In 1839, archaeologist John El Aryan discovered a structure that resembled a pyramid in the desert near the Memphis site in Egypt. It was located on a piece of uneven ground. It had been dilapidated and had two statues. The structure is like steps, the highest point is about 17 meters above the ground. However, Aryan did not explore it. In 1848, another archaeologist came there and he confirmed that it was a pyramid. This pyramid has the obvious characteristics of the third dynasty pyramid of ancient Egypt, and it was developed on the basis of a noble tomb style called "Mastaba" in the early period of ancient Egypt. Mastaba means stone bench. It was originally a residential style in ancient Egypt. It had a flat roof and the walls sloped outward, like a trapezoid. From the beginning of the third dynasty, the ground part of the mausoleum of the nobles imitated Mastaba, and the underground parts such as tombs and temples were built. Because this pyramid is composed of layers of stone steps, it is also called a step pyramid. However, for some unknown reason, the archaeologist did not explore the pyramid.
The step pyramid looks like a mound from a distance
The step pyramid seems to be unwilling to appear in the public eye, and the archaeological work on it has not progressed very smoothly. More than 50 years after being discovered, an archaeologist found the entrance to the pyramid. But he also only cleaned a small part of it and stopped work.
In 1900, Italian ancient Egyptologist Alessandro Barsanti found the shaft leading to the tomb and cleared out several corridors and burial spaces in the underground tomb. He also confirmed that there was a The painted tomb is the tomb where the pharaoh's coffin is placed. After observing the excavated part, they drew the structure diagram of the underground part according to scale. But what is frustrating is that they did not find the funerary objects, nor did they find any artifacts with the name of the pharaoh. They also noticed a strange situation-the passage to the tomb was very narrow, and it was impossible for the sarcophagus to be transported to the tomb through this passage. Therefore, the archaeologist believes that this is an unfinished mausoleum, and no pharaoh has ever been buried in a pyramid.
After another 10 years, another archaeological team came to the Step Pyramid. They also did an investigation on the pyramid, but the strange thing is that their results are very different from those of Balsandi, such as the underground structure. The size of the cemetery, the interior decoration of the tomb, the number of rooms and corridors in the pyramid, etc. are different. What is going on here? Could it be that in 10 years, what has changed inside the pyramid? What is the inside of the step pyramid?
A statue of the dwarf nobleman Senib and his family, this statue was found in the tomb of Senib.
The step pyramid has always been there, but no one can answer these questions until now. This is because since 1970, the pyramid has been enclosed in a military reserve, prohibiting any archaeological excavations and research work. What is puzzling is that the location of the pyramid does not seem to have any military or strategic significance, and there are only a few small buildings in the so-called military reserve, without any real military facilities. So, what exactly are military reserves protecting? No one can answer these unsolved mysteries in a short time.
Pending murder
Also in the desert near the Memphis site in Egypt, another third dynasty pyramid is not only mysteriously foggy, but some people who have been in close contact with it are also deep in the mysterious fog. The owner of this pyramid was Sekhmet Josetti, the second pharaoh of the Third Dynasty, so its other name is "Pyramid of Sekhmet."
In 1951, Egyptian archaeologist Zakaria Gonem accidentally dug a wall in the desert. After several years of excavation, they unearthed a wall about 5.2 meters high and about 18 meters thick. And the pyramids and other structures within the walls. In the pyramid, Gonem found a jar with the name of the pharaoh and many jewels. In addition, they also found a wooden coffin in a tomb containing the remains of an unidentified child about two years old. The most important discovery was that they found a sealed sarcophagus in the pharaoh's tomb. Judging from the situation inside the pyramid, this is a pyramid that has never been stolen, so it can be speculated that there should be a fully preserved mummy in the sarcophagus.
Gonem's work seems to be going well, but his doom seems to begin with the excavation of this pyramid. While clearing a channel of the hidden pyramid, the top suddenly collapsed, and rubble and sand buried the workers working underneath. The accident is said to have caused dozens of deaths. Many people think this is a pharaoh's curse, and the death may be a warning. But as an archaeologist, Gonem didn't care about the so-called pharaoh's curse, he decided to open the sarcophagus.
The news that Gonem was about to open a sealed sarcophagus attracted the attention of the world media, and people couldn't wait to witness the moment when the coffin was opened. However, it took a whole month from the announcement of the opening of the coffin to the actual opening of the coffin. It is said that there was a problem in the preparation work. And when the sarcophagus was opened, something incredible happened-the inside of the coffin was actually empty, and there was nothing in a carefully sealed sarcophagus. Everyone returned in disappointment.
Egyptian archaeologist Zakaria Gonem and the hidden pyramids he discovered and the sarcophagus inside the pyramids.
The next day, articles criticizing Gornem were overwhelming in major newspapers. But Gornem did not seem to be affected. He believed that it was normal for the sarcophagus to be empty, which may indicate that the pyramid was never actually used by the Pharaoh. Subsequently, he published the book "Buried Pyramid" and gave corresponding lecture tours in the United States, which attracted the attention of archaeologists. At this moment, he was targeted by Egyptian agents! Moreover, every time Gonem returns to Egypt, he is always interrogated by the authorities and lives under surveillance. The reason is that Gonem smuggled a precious cultural relic out of the country. But later facts proved that the cultural relic has always been stored in the Egyptian Museum. What is even more bizarre is that when Gornem found evidence to prove his innocence, people found his body floating on the Nile River... Until now, the cause of his death is still a mystery.
Many people speculate that his death may be related to the hidden pyramid, but no one knows the real reason, because after 1963, all excavation and research work on the hidden pyramid was stopped. The surrounding buildings have high research value. Although the site of the hidden pyramid is now open to the public, the underground part is forbidden to visitors. This makes people wonder whether there are hidden secrets under the hidden pyramid?
The dwarf mummy was stolen
And 25 years before Gonem discovered the hidden pyramids, he also participated in the excavation of the Giza Pyramids. The Giza Pyramids include the famous Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Sphinx and other buildings, as well as the tombs of the nobles and the tombs of the workers who built the pyramids. At that time, Gonem and his colleagues found a grave signed by Senib. After textual research, Seneb was the favored subject of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and his successors. Judging from the inscriptions in the tomb, he had held at least 14 official positions, which is a wealth of wealth. But strangely, the paintings and statues in the tomb show that Senib is a short dwarf with a big head. Experts believe that he may suffer from achondroplasia or dystonia.
Why would such a person with a physical defect be valued by the Pharaoh? It turns out that during the period from the first dynasty of ancient Egypt (approximately 3100-2680 BC) to the Old Kingdom (approximately 2680-2180 BC), dwarves were not discriminated against, but were respected and held high status. Some The dwarves served the pharaohs and the royal family and were buried near the tombs of the pharaohs. There are even two dwarf gods among the patron saints of ancient Egypt.
In the decades after Senib's tomb was discovered, several tombs of people who were also dwarfs of higher status were discovered near his tomb. Different cultures and different attitudes towards dwarfs are understandable, but the same incredible thing happened to the graves of these dwarfs-all the mummies of the tomb owner are gone. One of the mummies believed to be Senib's father was still in the tomb when the archaeologists opened the tomb, but for some unknown reason, the mummy was also missing.
This is a very strange phenomenon. Under normal circumstances, tomb thieves will steal the treasures in the tomb and will not take the mummies because they are not easy to carry. Why are the mummies of these dwarf nobles taken away? This is still an unsolved mystery.
