Chilling Mystery of the Silver Mask (Full Episode) | Kingdom of Mummies | National Geographic

Key Concepts

• Saqqara Necropolis: An ancient Egyptian burial ground, a significant archaeological site.
• 26th Dynasty: A period in ancient Egyptian history (circa 664-525 BC) known for religious and burial innovations.
• Mummification: The process of preserving a body after death.
• Sarcophagus: A stone coffin.
• Anthropoid Sarcophagus: A sarcophagus shaped like a human body.
• Grave Goods: Objects placed in a tomb with the deceased for use in the afterlife.
• Hieroglyphs: The ancient Egyptian writing system.
• Niut-shaes: An obscure serpent goddess worshipped by some individuals in the Saqqara complex.
• Canopic Jars: Jars used to store the internal organs of the deceased during mummification.
• Photogrammetry: A digital imaging technique used to create 3D models from overlapping photographs.
• Gilded Silver Burial Mask: A mask made of silver covered with gold foil, used in burials.
• Priestess: A female priest.

Archaeological Discoveries at Saqqara

The Discovery of a Unique Funeral Complex

Archaeologists, led by Egyptologist Dr. Ramadan Hussein, have unearthed a remarkable funeral complex in the ancient cemetery of Saqqara. This complex dates back to around 600 BC, during the 26th Dynasty, a period characterized by significant developments in Egyptian religion and burial practices. The site served as a place for mummification and burial in chambers located deep underground.

Notable Finds and Their Significance

The excavation has yielded a wealth of treasures, including:

• The First Silver Mummy Mask in Nearly a Century: This gilded silver burial mask is a rare and valuable artifact, signifying the wealth and status of its owner. Silver was highly prized in ancient Egypt, often considered more valuable than gold and associated with the divine. The mask's composition, analyzed through X-rays, revealed an exceptionally high purity of silver (99%) and gold, typically seen only with royalty, indicating the owner's elite status.
• Mummified Remains: The team discovered mummified remains, including that of an Egyptian priest named Tjanimit, hidden for 2,500 years. Tjanimit's mummy was adorned with an elaborate beaded burial shroud, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and suggesting he was a wealthy individual.
• Inscribed Sarcophagi: Two stone sarcophagi, one anthropoid and one rectangular, were found to be inscribed with text. These inscriptions are crucial for understanding the individuals buried within, as they provide names and professions. The ancient Egyptians believed that writing down a deceased person's name ensured their immortality.
• Grave Goods: A variety of grave goods were found, intended to aid the deceased in their afterlife.

The Mystery of the Two Priests

The inscriptions on the sarcophagi revealed the names of the individuals buried within: Tjanimit and Ayput. Both were identified as priests, leading to the central mystery of why two priests were buried together in the same tomb. This raised questions about their potential connection and the significance of their shared burial.

Unraveling the Lives of the Deceased

Tjanimit: A Wealthy Priest

The rectangular sarcophagus of Tjanimit was opened, revealing a remarkably preserved mummy covered in an elaborate beaded burial shroud. The quality of this shroud, made from hundreds of glazed clay beads, indicated Tjanimit's wealth and status. The inscriptions on his sarcophagus connected him to prominent Egyptian gods and goddesses, including a serpent goddess named Niut-shaes.

The Obscure Goddess Niut-shaes

The discovery of Tjanimit's priesthood of Niut-shaes prompted further investigation into this lesser-known deity. Project consultant Salima Ikram visited Luxor Temple, a significant site for religious inscriptions, to find mentions of Niut-shaes. While the goddess was not highly prominent in Egyptian history, Tjanimit's role as her priest elevated her significance, suggesting she was an independent deity.

The Priestess of Niut-shaes and the Silver Mask

A significant discovery was made in a tomb adjacent to the priests' chamber: a mummy wearing a priceless gilded silver burial mask. The text on this coffin revealed that its owner was also a priest and, crucially, also worshipped the serpent goddess Niut-shaes. This indicated a shared religious affiliation between Tjanimit and the owner of the silver mask, suggesting the emergence of a new cult.

Didi Bastet: A Mother and a Mystery

Further exploration led to the discovery of a burial chamber containing multiple wooden coffins and a calcite canopic jar. On one of the canopic jars, the name "Didi Bastet" was identified. This name was also found on Tjanimit's sarcophagus as the name of his mother, suggesting a familial connection and a "family reunion" within the tomb complex.

The Unprecedented Six Canopic Jars

A 3D digital model of Didi Bastet's chamber, created using photogrammetry due to the fragility of the wooden artifacts, revealed something unprecedented: six canopic jars instead of the customary four. CT scans of two of these extra jars, depicted with the jackal-headed god Duamutef and the falcon-headed god, revealed they contained human tissue. This led to speculation that Didi Bastet might have had her brain and kidneys embalmed and placed in these extra jars, a practice not previously documented in ancient Egypt. This discovery also highlighted the significant status and independence of women in ancient Egyptian society.

Ayput: A Priestess in Disguise?

The sarcophagus of Ayput, the second priest identified, was opened, revealing a mummy with a beaded shroud similar to Tjanimit's. However, the position of Ayput's arms – the left arm crossed over the chest and the right arm extended along the body – is a posture traditionally associated with high-status women. This led to the hypothesis that Ayput might have been a priestess, not a priest. X-rays of the mummy confirmed this suspicion, revealing skeletal features consistent with a female. This discovery presented a significant surprise, as Ayput had been referred to as a man throughout the investigation.

The Priestess of the Silver Mask

Further investigation into the mummy with the gilded silver mask also suggested the possibility of it belonging to a woman. The sharp brow and the crossed arm position, identical to Ayput's, are characteristic of female burials. This potential discovery of a second priestess further emphasized the significant social status and equality of women in ancient Egypt, who held positions of power, prestige, and wealth comparable to men.

The Cult of Niut-shaes and Future Research

The discovery of three individuals (Tjanimit, the owner of the silver mask, and potentially Ayput) worshipping the goddess Niut-shaes suggests the establishment of a new cult in ancient Egypt. The complex at Saqqara appears to be a significant center for this cult, with the largest number of mentions of Niut-shaes found in Shaft K24. Dr. Hussein believes that Niut-shaes may have had her own shrine in the vicinity of Shaft K24.

The ongoing mission at Saqqara is a lifelong research project aimed at gathering more information, rewriting the stories of the individuals discovered, and deepening the understanding of ancient Egyptian society, religion, and burial practices. The complexity and unexpected nature of the finds, such as the six canopic jars and the potential priestesses, underscore the dynamic and evolving nature of archaeological discovery.