New Discovery, Sakkara"1": Egypt discovers 2,500-year-old intact coffins

Egypt announced on Sunday the discovery of a collection of more than 13 intact sealed coffins dating back to 2,500 years ago.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the coffins were found at an archeological site in Saqqara necropolis in Giza

The coffins, along with three sealed niches, were unearthed inside an 11-meter-deep shaft, the statement added.

Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany and Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), visited the site on Sunday and inspected the excavation work in the shaft.

“The discovery marks the largest number of coffins found in one burial place since the discovery of the Asasif Cachette,” the minister said, referring to the discovery of 30 ancient coffins in October 2019 at Asasif cemetery in Upper Egypt’s Luxor Province.

“The discovery in Saqqara includes a wonderful collection of colored wooden coffins whose colors and inscriptions are still in a good condition despite the passage of 2,500 years,” Waziri, who leads the Egyptian archeological mission in Saqqara, told Xinhua news agency.

Waziri said the exact number of the unearthed coffins, as well as the identity and

titles of their owners, have not yet been determined, but they will be found out in the coming few days as the excavation work still continues.

 

“The mission continues excavation work on the site and it is expected to result in many other new discoveries of shafts, colored wooden coffins, and statues,” the SCA chief added.

Initial studies revealed that the coffins are completely sealed and have not been opened since they were buried inside the shaft, according to the ministry.

Source: CGTN 

 

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Handball: Hosts Egypt pick group that includes Sweden, Czech Republic in World Championship

Egypt hosted the World Championship draw against the spectacular
backdrop of the Sphinx and Pyramids 

Hosts Egypt assigned themselves to a group that includes Sweden and the Czech Republic in the expanded Handball World Championship after the draw was made against the spectacular backdrop of the Sphinx and Pyramids on Saturday.

Group G also features the representatives of the South and Central America Handball Confederation (SCAHC), who are yet to be determined.

The 2021 edition, which will take place from 13-31 January, will include 32 teams for the first time in the tournament's history.

The preliminary round features eight groups of four teams each. The top three teams from each group will advance to the main round, where they will be divided into four groups of six teams each.

The top-two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.

Egypt will come up against four-time World Championship winners Sweden, their toughest opponents in the preliminary round. The Czech Republic have also won the tournament once in 1967.

"We are looking to go as far as possible in the World Championship," said Hesham Nasr, the president of the Egyptian Handball Federation.

"We are realistic with regards to our hopes but we are emboldened by the impressive results of our national youth teams."

Last year, Egypt's U19 handball team won the World Championship in Macedonia while the U21 side clinched the bronze medal in Spain.

The best outcome for Egypt's senior side was a fourth-place finish in France in 2001. In last year's edition in Denmark and Germany, the Pharaohs finished eighth for their best position in 18 years.

They also won the African Championship in Tunisia earlier this year.

Source: Ahram Online