An Egyptian-Russian archaeological mission operating in the Deir al-Banat area in Qalmasha village of Fayoum Governorate discovered on Tuesday a wooden coffin with a mummy dating back to the Graeco-Roman era.
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| Credit: Russian Institute for Oriental Studies |
The mummy, which was in a good condition, was wrapped in linen and was wearing a blue and gold cartonnage mask, said Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa al-Waziry.
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Credit: Russian Institute for Oriental Studies |
He noted that although the mummy was well-preserved, the coffin was in a poor state as the lid was broken and the base had numerous cracks with no inscriptions on it.
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| Credit: Russian Institute for Oriental Studies |
In a press statement, Waziry said that the mask is adorned with an image of the sky deity Khebir. The chest depicts the goddess Isis, while beneath the feet there is a drawing of a white clog.
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| Credit: Russian Institute for Oriental Studies |
The mission carried out the initial restoration of the coffin and the mummy at the site of the discovery, said head of the Islamic Antiquities Sector, Mohamed Abdellatif.
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| Credit: Russian Institute for Oriental Studies |
The Russian mission, which is affiliated with the Russian Institute for Oriental Studies, has been working in the area for approximately seven years.
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| Credit: Russian Institute for Oriental Studies |
The archaeological area consists of two parts. The first section houses the ruins of a church and a monastery, while the second consists of a cemetery dating back to various periods, including the Graeco-Roman era and the early Coptic period.
Source: Egypt Independent [November 14, 2017]
