The tomb of Amenemhat, „goldsmith of Amon“, discovered near Luxor

An archaeologist restores a sarcophagus in the recently discovered tomb of Amon's goldsmith Amenemhat near Luxor in southern Egypt. IBRAHIM RAMADAN / ANADOLU AGENCY
An archaeologist restores a sarcophagus in the recently discovered tomb of Amon's goldsmith Amenemhat near Luxor in southern Egypt. IBRAHIM RAMADAN / ANADOLU AGENCY

Archeologists discovered near Luxor the tomb of an important goldsmith of the New Kingdom, as well as several mummies, masks and statuettes.

The necropolis of Draa Aboul Naga, near Luxor in southern Egypt, has not stopped revealing its secrets. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities  announced the recent discovery of a silversmith’s tomb and the mummies of a woman and her two children at her side. This necropolis known for its ancient tombs and temples belongs to the Valley of the nobles, where were buried the notables close to the pharaohs.

The goldsmith of the god Amon

The Amenemhat goldsmith (whose name literally means „under the responsibility of Amon“) dedicated his work to Amon, the major god of Egyptian mythology, especially in the city of Thebes. The discovered tomb would date according to the archaeologists of the New Kingdom period (between the sixteenth and eleventh century BC). According to the statement of the Egyptian authorities, inside the tomb was a statue of the silversmith sitting in a chair and accompanied by his wife wearing a dress and wearing a wig. Between the two, the portrait of their son was painted.

It was in a room at the end of a corridor that the archaeologists discovered the mummy of the woman and her two children. According to the ministry quoting Chérine Ahmed Chawqi, an Egyptologist specializing in bone, the woman appears to have died at the age of 50 and tests show she suffered from „a bacterial disease in the bones .“ Another funeral led the archaeologists to a room containing several mummies, masks and funerary statues. Other statues carved from wood, earth or limestone were discovered, 150 in all.

Egyptian Antiquities Ministry
Egyptian Antiquities Ministry

In one of the chambers lie the remains of three mummies with their skulls exposed, but as for whether these are Amenemhat’s family members isn’t clear.