The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Featured image via Egyptian Streets

Egypt is filled to the brim with Pharaonic monuments and artefacts here and there, but it still manages to reveal more and more hidden gems. The newest addition to the seemingly infinite list comes in the shape of an Old Kingdom Tomb, one that was discovered a long time ago, but only opened to the public this week.

Khaled El Enany, Minister of Antiquities, has stated that this tomb belongs to the Sixth Dynasty Vizier Mehu in Saqqara Necropolis. It was first discovered back in 1939 by Egyptologist Zaki Saad. So why exactly has it been on the sidelines for so long?

There is no clear reason announced behind this, but perhaps some tombs are kept for times when they are really needed. However, Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, has stated that restoration work was needed before the opening of this tomb. It is expected that this tomb will do very well for tourism, especially with Waziri talking about how it’s “one of the most beautiful [tombs] in Saqqara Necropolis because it still keeps its vivid colours and distinguished scenes.”

Mehu, a high-ranking official, is the proud owner of this tomb, and his 48 titles are all depicted on the walls of the burial chamber. It also has two other chambers, keeping his son Meru Re Ankh, and grandson Hetap Ka II, close to him. You can also see a long yet narrow corridor housing six other chambers. The vast tomb has its walls decorated by beautiful inscriptions of the ancient Egyptian life, perhaps the most notable is that of crocodiles in what seems to be a marriage ceremony attended by a turtle.

Here’s to seeing more and more Egyptian gems being discovered. We seriously can never get enough of them.