What are the greatest treasures of ancient Egypt?

Egypt, the land of wonders, is always brimming with an ongoing process of discoveries and secrets. Treasures of ancient Egyptians found in Egypt enhanced understanding of the world to the great civilization of ancient Egypt and its rich culture and history.

 

List of the greatest Treasures of ancient Egypt:

1- The Great Pyramid of Giza

For over 3,800 years, the Great Pyramid was the world’s tallest human-made structure. its the best and most famous treasures of ancient Egypt.

The construction of the Great Pyramid involved quarrying approximately 2.3 million large blocks, with a total weight of around 6 million tonnes. The stones varied in size and shape and were roughly dressed. The outer layers were held together with mortar. The primary material used for construction was local limestone from the Giza Plateau.

 

The construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza involved using various block types, showcasing the engineering prowess of the ancient builders. For instance, white limestone from Tura was imported for the casing, and massive granite blocks from Aswan, some weighing up to 80 tons, were used to construct the “King’s Chamber.”

 

Inside the Great Pyramid, there are three known chambers. The lowest chamber was carved into the bedrock on which the pyramid was built but was left unfinished.

The “Queen’s Chamber” and “King’s Chamber,” which houses a granite sarcophagus, are located above ground within the pyramid structure. Hemiunu, who served as Khufu’s vizier, is believed by some to be the mastermind behind the Great Pyramid’s design. While various scientific and alternative theories exist, there still needs to be a consensus on the exact construction techniques used in building this magnificent structure. Lastly, it’s important to note that the Great Pyramid of Giza served as the final resting place of Pharaoh Khufu, and his granite sarcophagus can still be found inside. 

 

 

The four main purposes of the Great Pyramid:

– The deceased’s body was housed and protected.

– It indicated the status of the deceased and their family.

– It preserved the deceased’s position in society.

– It served as a location for offerings to be presented to the deceased.

 

2- The tomb of Tutankhamun

The burial site of Tutankhamun, known as KV62, is located in the Valley of the Kings and served as the final resting place for pharaoh Tutankhamun during the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (reigned c. 1332–1323 BC). Comprising four chambers, an entrance staircase, and a corridor, the tomb is comparatively modest in size and decoration compared to other contemporary royal tombs, likely originally intended for a non-royal individual and later repurposed for Tutankhamun following his untimely demise. Reflecting customary practices, Tutankhamun’s burial included an assortment of funerary objects and personal effects, such as coffins, furniture, clothing, and jewelry, accommodated within the limited space available in a densely packed manner.

 

Tutankhamun’s tomb was unearthed in 1922 by a team led by Howard Carter. The tomb’s abundance of stunning burial goods created a media sensation, making it the most celebrated discovery in Egyptology. During the excavation, the untimely death of Carter’s patron, the Earl of Carnarvon, fueled rumors of a curse. Although the find shed limited light on Tutankhamun’s reign and the preceding Amarna Period, it offered invaluable insights into the material wealth of ancient Egyptians and the ancient practice of tomb robbery. Tutankhamun himself emerged as one of the most renowned pharaohs, and certain artifacts from his tomb, such as his iconic golden funerary mask, stand as some of ancient Egypt’s most famous artworks.

 

 

3- The Temple of Abu Simbel

 

The temple features colossal standing statues of the king and is dedicated to four deities. It was precisely designed so that the sun illuminates the innermost statues on two days each year. Nearby, the Small Temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Both temples were relocated in 1968 to avoid submersion from the Aswan High Dam, thanks to an international effort led by UNESCO.

 

 

4- The Unfinished Obelisk

Obelisks, prominent in ancient Egyptian architecture, are renowned as quintessential symbols of ancient engineering prowess. These structures, typically occurring in pairs, dominate the entrances of Egyptian temples. Known as “tekhen” in the ancient Egyptian language, obelisks are hewn from a single block of stone, adorned with a rectangular shaft, and surmounted by a gilded pyramidion to reflect the sun’s radiance. Intrinsically linked with solar mythology, they symbolize the “benben,” signifying the ancient land from which the sun deity shaped the universe.

 

Egyptian monarchs commissioned obelisks inscribed with their names and religious dedications on the four faces of the shaft as an assertion of their divine sovereignty and allegiance to Ra the sun god.

 

The Unfinished Obelisk, originally uncovered in the early twentieth century after being concealed by sand for millennia, remains in its current state within one of the renowned Aswan quarries, known for its extraction of durable, high-quality stone. This tall stone pillar was likely ordered by Hatshepsut around 1473–1458 BC for the Amun temple in Karnak. However, the work was stopped because the stone had flaws and cracks. If finished, the obelisk weighed 1168 tonnes and stood about 42 meters high, taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk.

 

 

5- Deir el-Medina – The town of the tomb builders

Deir el-Medina is an ancient Egyptian village where the artisans responsible for constructing the tombs in the Valley of the Kings resided during the New Kingdom of Egypt. The settlement’s original name was Set maat, meaning “Place of Truth,” its inhabitants were referred to as “Servants in the Place of Truth.” Later, the temple of Hathor was transformed into the Monastery of Saint Isidorus the Martyr. This resulted in the village being known as “Deir el-Medina,” which translates to “Monastery of the City” in Egyptian Arabic.

 

The discovery of this site has led to one of the most extensively recorded descriptions of community life in the historical era, covering nearly four centuries. No other site allows for the in-depth study of a community’s organization, social dynamics, working conditions, and living arrangements in a similar manner.

 

The area is situated on the western side of the Nile, opposite modern-day Luxor. The settlement is arranged in a small natural amphitheater, conveniently close to the Valley of the Kings in the north. The village may have been built separately from the larger community to keep the activities in the tombs secret.

 

 

6- Khufu Ship

The Khufu ship, a fully intact solar bark from ancient Egypt, and one of the most famous treasures of ancient Egypt. it was buried in a pit next to the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu around 2500 BC. It was meant to be used in the afterlife as part of the grave goods. It is considered one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved vessels from ancient times. The ship is 43.4 meters (142 ft) long, 5.9 meters (19 ft) wide, and 1.78 meters (5.83 ft) deep. It is the oldest intact ship in the world and has been described as “a masterpiece of woodcraft.” It could still sail if placed in a lake or river today.

 

The ship’s flat bottom was made of several planks, but no actual keel; the planks and frames were lashed together with Halfah grass. It has been reconstructed from 1,224 pieces, which were laid out in a dismantled order in the pit beside the pyramid. The Giza Solar boat was previously displayed in the Giza Solar Boat Museum. However, in August 2021, it was relocated to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

 

 

7- Tomb of Seti I

The tomb of King Seti I in the Valley of the Kings is considered on of the greatest treasures of ancient Egypt and known for being long, deep, and beautifully decorated. Sety I, the second king of the Nineteenth Dynasty and father of Ramesses II, was laid to rest in this tomb, also called “Belzoni’s tomb” after its discoverer.

 

Like other tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Sety I’s tomb is adorned with various texts to ensure his successful journey to the afterlife. It was the first tomb in the valley to be entirely decorated. The painted scenes and reliefs are of high quality, reflecting Sety I’s reign. The tomb features funerary texts such as the Litany of Re, Amduat, Book of Gates, and the Book of the Divine Cow, as well as beautiful astronomical scenes on the ceiling of the burial chamber.

 

Sety I’s tomb falls under the “joggled axis” type of tomb characteristic of his time. It includes unique features such as a false burial chamber intended to deceive intruders and a burial chamber with a vaulted ceiling. Its design suggests a symbolic connection with the underworld.

In 1821, reproductions of several rooms from the tomb were exhibited in London, attracting public interest in ancient Egypt.

 

 

8- Lost Temple of Akhmim

It’s an ancient Egyptian temple and of the amazing treasures of ancient Egypt, located in the city of Akhmim. It isn’t lost now but buried beneath the modern town of Akhmim, Upper Egypt.

 

The temple was dedicated to the god Min, the fertility and harvest deity, and the goddess Isis. Statues, stelae, inscriptions, and a colossal statue of Queen Meritamen (Ramesses II’s daughter) were discovered in this temple. The Statue of Queen Meritamen stands about 11 meters tall.

 

The discovery of this temple posed a significant challenge as it was concealed beneath Akhmim. However, it offers valuable insights into the religious rituals of ancient Egypt.

 

 

9- Secret Mummy Cave – Deir el-Bahari Cache

on of the best treasures of ancient Egypt and an important archaeological discovery has revealed many royal mummies. The tomb contains over 50 mummies, including those of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, such as Pharaoh Seti I, Ahmose, and Ramesses II.

 

This cache revealed the secret of the new kingdom’s burial practices and allowed scholars to study the mummies of some of Egypt’s rulers.

The revelation of The Hidden Mummy Cave marked a turning point in the field of Egyptology. It sheds light on the burial customs of ancient Egyptians and the experiences and deaths of important historical individuals.

 

 

10- Valley of the Golden Mummies

In 1996, an Egyptian archaeologist named Zahi Hawass and his team discovered one of the best treasures of ancient Egypt at Baharia Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt. They found about 250 mummies that had been undisturbed for around two thousand years. Further exploration revealed that there are over ten thousand mummies at the site.

 

Hawass and his team discovered many well-preserved mummies in different decorative styles at Bahariya. Approximately sixty mummies featured a first style with a gilded mask and waistcoat adorned with scenes of gods and goddesses. Another style involved cartonnage depicting gods like Anubis, and the third style utilized anthropoid pottery coffins. The fourth style used linen coverings.

 

The mummies were interred with various artifacts, such as jewelry, pottery, wine jars, and Ptolemaic coins. The discovery of these mummies in the tombs of Bahariya Oasis during the Roman period suggests the wealth of the people of that time, as they could afford gilding and cartonnage adorned with beautiful scenes. Each mummy is distinct, reflecting the individual styles.