ARCHAEOLOGISTS
FIND PHARAONIC SEALS
Copyright 2005 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ April 29th 2005 ]
Egyptian
archaeologists have uncovered a series of rare
Pharaonic seals of soldiers sent out on desert
missions in search of red paint to decorate the
pyramids, French news agency AFP has reported.
The 26 matchbox-sized seals belonged to Cheops,
who ruled from 2551 to 2528 BC, in whose honour
the greatest of the great pyramids of Giza southwest
of Cairo was built, and show Pharaonic soldiers'
ranks, AFP is quoted as saying.
Egypt's
culture minister, Zahi Hawwas, says the discovery
amounts to further understanding of ancient Egyptian
rituals, which at the time influenced many of
the relics built across Egypt. "These seals were
used by a mission sent by Cheops to collect ferric
oxide, which is necessary to make red paint. Artisans
at the time needed ferric oxide to decorate the
pyramids as well as (other) material and funerary
installations of the IVth dynasty"
Hawwas
said archaeologists also discovered a number of
leather bags containing ferric oxide brought back
by the 'mission' - a group of 400 men whose job
it was to cook during the journey.
|