An engraving near the entrance to the tomb of Khentakawess III. Source: Egyptian Antiquities Dept Source: Supplied
Archaeologists in Egypt announced their discovery of a tomb that has housed ancient Egyptian queen Khentakawess III from the Fifth Dynasty. Khentakawess III was possibly the wife of Pharaoh Neferefre or the Mother of Pharaoh Menkaure.
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A team from the Czech Republic unearthed the tomb, announcing the details of what was found at the Abu Sir necropolis on Sunday (Jan. 4th). Abu Sir sits just southwest of Cairo, and in the region, several pyramids dedicated to pharaohs of old rest there.
Egypt’s Antiquities Minister and Ain Shams University Professor of Egyptology Mamdouh al-Damaty relayed in a statement that Pharaoh Neferefre’s wife’s name was unknown until this moment.
Mausoleum … the site of the tomb of Khentakawess III. Egyptian Antiquities Dept
The Express Tribune reports:
He identified her as Khentakawess, saying that for the “first time we have discovered the name of this queen who had been unknown before the discovery of her tomb.”
That would make her Khentakawess III, as two previous queens with the same name have already been identified.
Her name and rank had been inscribed on the inner walls of the tomb, probably by the builders, Damaty said.
“This discovery will help us shed light on certain unknown aspects of the Fifth Dynasty, which along with the Fourth Dynasty, witnessed the construction of the first pyramids,” he added.
Miroslav Barta, who heads the Czech Institute of Egyptology mission who made the discovery, said the tomb was found in Neferefre’s funeral complex.
Barta added that because of where the tomb was found, it gives credence to the idea that it may have been Neferefre’s wife.
The archaeologists also discovered 30 pieces of utensils, many of which were made of limestone with a few made of copper.
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