Greek Mummy Tomb Unearthed in Aswan

Recently in Aswan, Egypt, a tomb from the Greco-Roman era containing a Greek mummy was discovered. The archaeologists also made the exceedingly unusual discovery of a copper plaque bearing the man's name, Nikostratos, close to his remains.

According to a report from the University of Milan on Monday, the incredible discovery was uncovered as part of excavations by the Egyptian-Italian Mission at West Aswan, near the Aga Khan Mausoleum.

Even though the complex of tombs had been robbed in antiquity, the Greek man's mummy was still intact, and grave items including ornate ceramics were discovered with the body. At the entrance to the tomb, which held 20 mummies in total, was an altar for sacrifices.

The Aga Kham Mausoleum complex contains the tomb, which according to archaeologists was "extremely vast" but was previously unknown to history.

Abdelmoneim Said, the Director General of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities, and Patrizia Piacentini, Professor of Egyptology and Egyptian Archaeology at the State University of Milan, led the archaeological mission that took place in 2021. (SCA).

During the excavations that took place between May and October of 2021, the amazing find was made.

On the western bank of the Nile in Aswan, there are more than 300 tombs dating from the sixth century BC to the fourth century AD. Since 2019, a joint Italian-Egyptian team has been working in this area.

This spans the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history, when Egyptian royalty intermarried with the Greek Ptolemies, who served as the tyrants who ruled over a portion of the territory acquired by Alexander the Great.

Near the east wall of the building, archaeologists discovered a man's mummy. They also found a copper necklace with his name, "Nikostratos," engraved on it in Greek. They believe that his body had originally been in the tomb that had been uncovered soon afterward under the rectangular structure and later taken out by looters in ancient times.

Their most recent discovery is a sizable Greco-Roman tomb (designated AGH032) that was concealed by a well-preserved rectangular building that bears significant evidence of a mysterious fire that the archaeologists believe also affected the burial site.

According to the archaeologists' report, which was published by the University of Milan, a large pile of animal bones, mostly sheep bones, pottery shards, offering plates, and slabs inscribed with hieroglyphics covered the east wall of the building, indicating that it was used as a votive site.

According to the archaeologists, this is the first building of its kind discovered in the Aga Khan necropolis.

The entrance was surrounded by a complex system of slabs and stone blocks above the staircase, which was partially flanked by carved blocks and covered by a mud-brick vault. At the entrance, a sizable altar or offering table was discovered in fragments with clearly legible hieroglyphic writing on it.