Just three weeks ago, archaeologists in Alexandria, Egypt made a remarkable discovery—a massive black granite sarcophagus that had remained undisturbed for 2,000 years. As news of the find spread, speculations began to swirl. Could this ancient artifact possibly hold the remains of the renowned Macedonian leader, Alexander the Great? Or perhaps it harbored a sinister curse?
However, the truth, as revealed by the experts who carefully unsealed the sarcophagus, proved to be quite different. Inside, there were no traces of Alexander the Great, nor any curse waiting to be unleashed. Instead, what they found were three skeletons and red-brown sewage water, emitting a repugnant odor.
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities had formed a committee of archaeologists to undertake the task of opening this extraordinary relic, which had been unearthed at a construction site.
According to Egyptian news outlet El-Watan, they initially lifted the lid of the tomb by just 5cm (2 inches) before the pungent smell forced them from the inspection scene entirely. They later prised it open with help from Egyptian military engineers.
“We found the bones of three people, in what looks like a family burial… Unfortunately the mummies inside were not in the best condition and only the bones remain,” said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Addressing media fears that disturbing the tomb could trigger an implacable Pharaoh’s curse, Mr Waziri declared: “We’ve opened it and, thank God, the world has not fallen into darkness.
“I was the first to put my whole head inside the sarcophagus… and here I stand before you … I am fine.”
Despite that, the site has now been cleared of people amid fears the sarcophagus could release lethal toxic fumes, Egypt’s state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram says.
Are mummies’ tombs dangerous?
Scientists have debunked the infamous “Mummy’s Curse”, but are there other threats in ancient tombs?
Lord Carnarvon, financial backer of the excavation of Tutankhamun’s burial site, died from an infected mosquito bite shortly after they opened the chamber in 1923.
Since then, rumours have swirled that mould or bacteria survived in the sealed area and caused or contributed to his fate.
But F DeWolfe Miller, professor of epidemiology at the University of Hawaii, told National Geographic that there’s no real danger.
“We don’t know of even a single case of either an archaeologist or a tourist experiencing any negative consequences [from bacteria or tomb moulds],” he told the magazine.
Experts have said the three individuals in the Alexandria sarcophagus may have been soldiers in the time of the Pharaohs.
The skull of one is said to show cracks which point to an arrow injury.
An alabaster bust, its features weathered beyond recognition, was also found with the tomb.
The structure is almost two metres (6.5ft) high and three metres long, and is the largest of its kind ever found intact.
It weighs in at 27 tonnes (59,500lb), and is believed to date from the early Ptolemaic period, which began in 323 BC after the death of Alexander the Great.
Archaeologists will now study the sarcophagus in depth to pinpoint when its occupants lived, and how they died.
