Divers find ancient long-lost carvings of Tutankhamun’s grandfather buried at bottom of Nile River & may unveil secrets
DIVERS have rediscovered ancient carvings featuring the face of Tutankhamun’s grandfather at the bottom of the Nile River.
Tutankhamun – also known as King Tut – has been a famed pharaoh ever since his tomb was found in 1922 in Egypt’s Valley of Kings.
Now archaeologists have stumbled across long-lost slabs of stone at the depths of the Nile that include hieroglyphs about the achievements of King Amenhotep III, the grandfather of King Tut.
The artefacts were found near the Aswan High Dam, an area favoured by researchers due to the presence of rock formations that have retained their good condition.
Carvings were first discovered there by archaeologists as far back as the 1960s but were lost when the Aswan High Dam was constructed to control flooding.
The most recent dive came in a bid to track down the lost Egyptian monuments.
But illustrations of notable pharaohs such as Amenhotep were uncovered in remarkable condition.
Also found were carvings about King Thutmose IV, famous for rediscovering the Great Sphinx of Giza that was hidden in the sand, legend has it.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities told Smithsonian Magazine: “For the first time, we (have) gone underwater to study the rock formations between the Aswan reservoir and the Aswan High Dam.
“Since the site remains in good condition, the mission was able to fully document it.”
Researchers filmed and took pictures of the carvings under water, but it’s unclear what the hieroglyphs could be translated to.
The city of Aswan holds historical significance for Egypt.
The ancient Egyptians are said to have deployed troops there, using it as a garrison town.
The city is also home to Abu Simbel, a temple featuring four huge statues of pharaoh Ramses II.
Archaeologists are now licking their lips over what else could be found at the site.
Dr Islam Saleem suggested there could be new findings and historical information unveiled in future dives, according the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
That could include learning more about the reign of King Tut’s grandfather Amanhoteb III, as well as other kings.
Who was King Tutankhamun?
Here’s everything you need to know about the Boy King…
- King Tutankhamun is the most famous of Egypt’s ancient pharaohs
- He ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago from 1332 to 1323 BC
- Tut is known as the “boy king” as he was just 10 years old when he took the thrown
- When he became the king he married his half-sister Ankhesenpaaten. They had two daughters together but both were stillborn.
- Tut died aged just 19 under mysterious circumstances
- Some believe that King Tut was assassinated but most believe that his death was an accident
- The pharaoh is also famous for the supposed curse that haunts his tomb
- After the tomb’s discovery in 1922, archaeologists, and even their family members, died from horrible illnesses or in strange accidents – and some say the deaths weren’t a coincidence
