Mysterious black granite sarcophagus is finally opened
Mummified corpses of ancient Egyptian soldiers with cracked skulls are found bathed in sewage
A mysterious 3-metre long black sarcophagus has been opened in Alexandria, found on the northern coast of Egypt and founded by the legendary leader of the same name. The 2-metre high coffin was first discovered earlier this month and unearthed in recent days.
The 27,000 kg tomb was found buried 5-metres beneath the ground of the city. Egyptologists pried open the black granite sarcophagus to reveal three decomposed bodies. The stone coffin was filled with sewage water, which is believed to have increased the rate of decomposition.
The move was confirmed by Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. 'The sarcophagus has been opened, but we have not been hit by a curse, said Mr Waziri.
None of the three mummies belong to a Ptolemaic or Roman royal family, as had previously been suggested, according to reports. This conclusion is based on the coffins bearing no inscriptions or a cartouche displaying the occupant's names. The lack of silver or gold metallic masks, statues, amulets or inscriptions also suggests they were not of high status.
Mr Waziri said in a press statement that one of the skulls showed signs of multiple fractures. He suggested that it had been hit by a sharp instrument and that it belonged to a soldier. He also said that the other two skulls were intact and male, with further studies expected to reveal their ages and appearances.
'Preliminary examination suggests the skeletons belong to three army officers, one of them his skull shows an injury of an arrow,' Shaban Abd Monem, a specialist in mummies at the Ministry of Antiquities, said.
The three mummies will now be moved to the Alexandria National Museum, while the coffin will be transferred to a military museum.
The sarcophagus was uncovered inside an ancient tomb earlier this month, which also contained a bust made from alabaster whose features had eroded into obscurity.
Egyptologists at the time determined the tomb belonged to a nobleman as opposed to a king.
Some historians believe Alexander's remains could one day be discovered on top of the modern city, which is built on the ancient settlement he established.
Antiques ministry officials said at the time that the sarcophagus had been sealed for more than 2,000 years. An undisturbed layer of mortar sat between its lid and the body of the coffin.
Questions as to the identity of the person inside arose due to the worn bust and the absence of any written inscriptions.
Some said it belonged to a rich or noble man who lived between 323BC and 30BC. This was the time Rome seized Egypt and after the death of Cleopatra.
The tomb was said to be ' too small' for a king like Alexander as bigger ones have been found to contain Roman nobles.
When news it would be opened surfaced, American author Catherynne Valente joked: 'If the movies have taught me anything, guys, don’t open that. Leave it alone.'
The find follows another recent discovery in Egypt, in which archaeologists uncovered an ancient mummification workshop dating back more than 2,500 years.
Specialist stumbled across the find near Egypt's famed pyramids at an ancient necropolis south of Cairo.
The discovery included a mummification workshop and a shaft, which was used as a communal burial place, located at the Saqqara necropolis of Memphis - the first capital of ancient Egypt. Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its vast necropolis are home to a range of temples and tombs as well as the three renowned Giza pyramids.