Dozens of cat mummies unearthed in ancient Egyptian tomb
At an excavation of a pharaoh's 4,500-year-old pyramid complex, Egyptian archaeologists discovered dozens of mummified cats — in addition to 100 ornate cat statues.
Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El-Enany announced the ancient cat artifacts on Nov. 10, and the Ministry took to Twitter to share images of the long-deceased felines, wrapped in ribbons of cloth.
Ancient Egyptians may not have worshiped their cats, but there's ample evidence that they viewed the small mammals as divine.
#Tens of #cats #mummies were unearthed in #Saqqara #necropolis along with 100 wooden #gilded #statues of #cats and a bronze one dedicated to the cat #goddess #bastet. pic.twitter.com/g0oSQPBhL8
— Ministry of Antiquities-Arab Republic of Egypt (@AntiquitiesOf) November 10, 2018
#mummies of #cats #discoverd in #Saqqara (#Discovery pic.twitter.com/AFRNERfHBn
— Ministry of Antiquities-Arab Republic of Egypt (@AntiquitiesOf) November 10, 2018
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The mummified cats, however, weren't alone.
Piles of mummified scarab beetles were also found in the tomb. The large beetles lay buried under the lid of heavy limestone sarcophagus for 4,500 years.
#Discovery Unique #Discovery in #Saqqara #Giza #Egypt #mummies of #scarabs #AncientEgypt pic.twitter.com/FkCA9HxY5P
— Ministry of Antiquities-Arab Republic of Egypt (@AntiquitiesOf) November 10, 2018
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