Featured Image Credit: Twitter/ @NZinEgypt
Topics: World News, News
Callum Jones
At one point we've all found ourselves being incredibly interested in a specific period of history - and more often than not, it's Ancient Egypt.
Though it was thousands of years ago, new things are being discovered all the time, including experts discovering the Egyptian pyramids used to be a completely different color.
And if there's one part of Ancient Egyptian history that we all love - it's the mummies.
In 2020, an Egyptian mummy coffin was opened for the first time in 2,500 years and it certainly brought a crowd out for the momentous occasion.
Advert
You can see it here:
Archaeologists in Egypt opened the ancient coffin in front of a live audience in October 2020.
While the opening of the coffin may have been at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but that didn't stop crowds showing - all be it with a mask of course.
Global News reported at the time that the coffin was the first of 59 sealed sarcophagi had been found earlier that year in a necropolis in Saqqara.
Saqqara is described as a 'vast' burial ground found in Egypt, serving the necropolis of the ancient city of Memphis back in the day.
The 59 wooden coffins were discovered inside burial wells in Saqqara's archaeology area, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Archeologists had found 13 coffins the previous month before hitting the jackpot with remaining 46.
However, despite how old they may, the coffins were said to be in 'perfect condition' and contained the bodies of many important people of Egypt's pastime.
These include Egyptian priests, prestigious members of the community, and other men who held significant importance back in the day.
READ MORE:
EGYPTOLOGIST SAYS MUMMY'S CURSE IS REAL AFTER 'COUGHING UP BLOOD'
THIS IS HOW THE EGYPTIANS MIGHT HAVE BUILT THE PYRAMIDS
VIDEO OF EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS MIGHT PUT YOU OFF VISITING
The video of the unsealing of one of these coffins went viral in 2020 as the event held by the ministry quickly became known across the world.
It shows staff removing the lid to the coffin to reveal a mummy chilling inside. Wrapped in an ornate burial cloth, those in attendance really got to see a piece of history - and probably smell it too.
Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said they were 'very happy' with the discovery at the time, calling it 'the gift of the century'.
New Zealand Ambassador in Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, and Tunisia, Amy Laurenson, said: "Honoured to be invited by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities HE Khaled El Anany to Saqqara for the announcement that a new tomb of mummies has been discovered. I saw one being opened for the first time in 2600 years! Truly amazing!"
The tombs are due to go on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum, whose construction, according to Reuters, was completed last year.