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| Were the 2,000 embalmed rams' skulls found in the temple of Pharaoh Ramses II an 'offering'? |
Archaeologists in Egypt have found more than 2,000 mummified heads of rams that were part of a mysterious offering to Pharaoh Ramses II.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities says the heads were discovered in Abydos, which is famous for the civilization's ancient temples and tombs since ancient times.
Apart from rams, stuffed dogs, cows, deer, and mongooses have also been found at the site and all of them have been exhumed by American archaeologists from New York University.
The head of the mission, Sameh Sikander, said the rams' heads were 'sacrifices' indicating that a cult devoted to Ramesses II celebrated 1,000 years after his death.'
Pharaoh Ramses II ruled Egypt for nearly seven decades from 1304 to 1237 BC, but it is still a mystery to experts why Ramses II continued to be worshiped after so long.
Mustafa Waziri, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, says the findings also help people learn more about the pharaoh's temple and the activities that took place after it was built between 2140 and 2374 BC. will
Apart from the remains of stuffed animals, archaeologists also discovered the remains of a palace with five-meter-thick walls dating back nearly 4,000 years.
The structure, says Alexander, 'may help restore the ancient site of Abydos before the construction of the temple of Ramesses II.'
Experts have also found various sculptures, papyri, remains of ancient trees, leather clothes, and shoes.
The city of Abydos, located on the banks of the Nile about 435 km from Cairo, is famous for Seti I as well as its tomb.
It was a burial place for the ancient Egyptian royal family and a pilgrimage site for the worship of the god Osiris.
Revival of tourism
In recent months, the Egyptian government has continued to regularly showcase new archaeological finds that some belief have no scientific or historical significance, but are presented by the media as a tourist attraction. is done
About 10 percent of the Northeast African country's GDP depends on tourism, an industry that employs two million people.
The country's economic crisis has forced authorities to look for new strategies to attract nearly 30 million tourists by 2028, up from 13 million before the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, critics of the project say that the government has failed to improve the condition of the archaeological sites and museums, which are in dilapidated condition.