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The opening of the sarcophagus (Egyptian Antiquities / Reuters)
The remains of the three mummies were recovered in very bad condition. The bones found floated among the reddish mud, which certainly did not favor conservation. It is likely – they let the ministry know – that they are filtered inside by a lesion on the right side of the sarcophagus. Inside, there were no precious objects or amulets, which makes it impossible for the bodies to belong to the nobles of the Ptolemaic or Roman era.
Mystery unveiled, but with a background – perhaps – disappointment. The find had aroused curiosity and excitement, as it was a very ancient sarcophagus. The thick layer of mortar under the lid indicated that the remains kept inside had remained intact for 2000 years. The sepulcher dates back to the Ptolemaic era and the idea that he could have kept the body never found from Alexander the Great, who died in 323 BC. Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Higher Council of Antiquities, denied this rumor. Waziri replied: "These are only superstitions, there is no curse: as you see that the world has not fallen into darkness, I am here in front of you and I am well".
The opening operations of the sarcophagus – 3 meters long and 2 high, weighing 30 tons – were completed on the site of the discovery, at a depth of five meters underground, because it was immediately too complex to transfer elsewhere because of the size.
The skeletons will be transferred to the National Museum of Alexandria, for further study, while the sarcophagus, with the help of the military authorities, will be introduced a deposit to renovate.
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