Ancient military commander’s tomb unearthed in Ismailia

An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) uncovered the tomb of a military commander from the reign of King Ramses III, the second ruler of the 20th Dynasty, along with a collection of communal and individual graves from the Greek, Roman, and Late Periods.

The discovery was made during excavations at Tell Roud Iskander in the Maskhouta area, Ismailia Governorate, the Egyptian Cabinet reported on Thursday.

Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector Mohamed Abdel-Badie stated that the mudbrick tomb consists of a main burial chamber and three adjoining rooms, with interior walls covered in a layer of white plaster. Inside, archaeologists found a human skeleton wrapped in cartonnage, dating to a later period than the tomb itself, suggesting its reuse.

The excavation also yielded alabaster vessels in excellent condition, some bearing cartouches of King Horemheb, a prominent military leader and ruler of the 18th Dynasty.

Additionally, a gold ring inscribed with the cartouche of Ramses III was discovered, alongside beads of various shapes and colours, as well as a small ivory box.

Kotb Fawzi Kotb, Head of the Central Administration for Antiquities of Lower Egypt and Sinai, noted that the communal tombs, dating to the Greek and Roman periods, contained human skeletal remains.

Meanwhile, the individual tombs from the Late Period housed amulets depicting the deities Taweret, Bes, and the Eye of Udjat.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: M. S. Salama