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00:00:00 – 00:19:52
The video explores various facets of ancient Egyptian archaeology, focusing on recent and historical discoveries at the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo. Central to the discussion are two documentaries: Netflix's "Lost Pyramid," featuring archaeologists Zahi Hawass and Mustafa Waziri. Their excavations, especially within the region known as the Great Enclosure (Gisr el-Mudir), uncovered significant finds but omitted details about specific discoveries and locations.
The narrative includes notable individuals like Zachariah Ghoneim, who made crucial excavations in the 1950s, and newer theories by scholars such as Rainier Schedelman. The complexities surrounding the Third Dynasty and Pharaoh Huni’s pyramid—potentially linked to structures like the Layer Pyramid, Lepsius Pyramid One, and Mastaba 17—are examined, highlighting differing scholarly opinions on these sites' origins and purposes.
An interesting aspect is the ongoing excavation successes at Saqqara, particularly Mustafa Waziri’s 2022 discovery of a tomb containing a vast collection of mummies and artifacts from Persian occupation, emphasizing his rising prominence in the field. The site’s historical significance is further stressed by the worship practices dedicated to the cat goddess Bastet at the Bubastion sanctuary, where numerous animal mummies were found.
Finally, a remarkable find is the fully intact Book of the Dead within Ahmos’s sarcophagus, unveiled at the Cairo museum and named Waziri Papyrus 1 in honor of Waziri's achievements. This discovery underscores the wealth and cultural richness of the individuals buried in Saqqara. The video conveys ongoing fascination and evolving knowledge in Egyptology, driven by an interplay of historical reverence, modern archaeological methods, and the personalities leading these endeavors.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses Netflix’s documentary “Lost Pyramid,” which focuses on real archaeology, contrasting it with their Cleopatra docudrama. The documentary centers on two teams of archaeologists working in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, south of Cairo. One team, led by Zahi Hawass, aims to find the Lost Pyramid of the third Dynasty Pharaoh Huni, while the other, led by his protégé Mustafa Waziri, seeks intact tombs. Both teams are successful in their endeavors. However, the documentary omits significant details about the specific locations and findings of their digs, as well as the mysteries surrounding Huni’s Lost Pyramid. The speaker notes the complicated relationship between Hawass and Waziri, highlighting Hawass’s enduring influence and Waziri’s recent rise in prominence. Lastly, the segment details the primary focus of Hawass’s excavation: the site known as Gisr el-Mudir, or the Great Enclosure, located near other notable Third Dynasty pyramids.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around several ancient Egyptian archaeological discoveries. It begins with the mention of the Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the first pyramid built in Egypt, and the buried pyramid of his successor, which was uncovered in the 1950s. The role of prominent Egyptian archaeologist Zachariah Ghoneim in earlier excavations is highlighted, and Zahi Hawass is noted to have admiration for Ghoneim’s work.
The segment explores the Great Enclosure at Saqqara, which resembles structures surrounding other pyramids but is thought to predate them, potentially from the second Dynasty based on pottery found in the 1990s investigations. John Perry, another archaeologist, also excavated the site in 2009 and discovered various artifacts and burials, including a 26th Dynasty group burial.
There is a notable focus on recent finds, including exceptionally well-preserved Old Kingdom tombs, although only one tomb, featuring a mummy covered in gold, is highlighted in the documentary. There is some confusion over the identity of the mummy, with conflicting reports from the media and Hawass.
Hawass believes the presence of these tombs suggests a nearby pyramid, as courtiers were typically buried close to their pharaohs to serve them in the afterlife. Ultimately, the segment concludes with the discovery of a significant and potentially monumental building, implying further important revelations.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the discussion focuses on the uncertainty surrounding the ownership of a particular pyramid, speculated to possibly belong to Huni or another member of the Third Dynasty. The Third Dynasty’s chronology is highly debated, with discrepancies in the king lists and little known about Huni himself, except that he was the last king of the dynasty and succeeded by Snefru, the first true pyramid builder. The video elaborates on various potential tombs attributed to Huni, including the Layer Pyramid, Lepsius Pyramid One, the Maidum Pyramid, and others. Scholars like Rainier Schedelman suggest Huni’s connection to the Layer Pyramid due to its near-completion, implying a long reign. Additionally, the video explores the possibility that Huni and another figure, Kaaba, might be the same individual, based on naming conventions and archaeological findings.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, it is discussed that although the Lair Pyramid was never completed, evidence suggests it was abandoned early in construction. The pyramid lacks casing blocks and is primarily made of mud brick masonry, likely from construction ramps. There were no burial remains found, indicating the intended occupant died before its completion. Another structure, possibly Huni’s tomb, called the Lepsius One Pyramid, was cataloged in 1842 but had collapsed by the mid-1980s. Though attributed to Huni, its location and subsequent use suggest it may not be a pyramid at all. The Maidum Pyramid is also considered, usually linked to Snefru, but some theories propose it was started by Huni and later modified. However, Huni’s name is absent from the site, while Snefru’s name is prevalent. Nearby, a significant structure called Mastaba 17 might belong to Huni or another predecessor of Snefru, indicating the high importance of the individual buried there due to the structure’s scale and the treasures once contained within.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, it is highlighted that the burial chamber discussed is grander than its neighboring pyramid. The Mastaba over the burial chamber is constructed with limestone chips from the pyramid, indicating they were built contemporaneously. However, the burial was completed before the Mastaba’s construction and could belong to a significant individual, potentially a predecessor of Snefru, though the exact identity remains uncertain due to the lack of inscriptions and the destruction of the discovered body during the London Blitz.
Additionally, a large Mastaba in South Abusir, theorized to belong to Huni, was found with his name inscribed and a boat buried next to it—a practice typically reserved for kings during that period. While generally considered the tomb of a high official, it uniquely contains the only name of Huni.
Furthermore, Huni is credited with constructing six small pyramids across Upper Egypt, supported by a granite cone found near one such pyramid inscribed with his name. These small pyramids’ purposes are debated but might relate to royal estates, the royal cult, or provincial government reorganization, possibly diminishing the significance of Huni’s own pyramid as a tomb.
The discussion transitions back to an excavation at Saqqara, an area once known as the Bubastion sanctuary near its entrance, providing context for the following segment of the documentary.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on the worship of the cat goddess Bastet, predominantly centered in Bubastis in the Nile Delta and Memphis. Many mummified cats and some lions were buried in her honor, particularly during the late period. The Babastion is noted here as part of a larger complex of animal cemeteries. This extensive mummy burials were believed to intercede with gods for their patrons, reflecting Egyptians’ desire to appease their deities after foreign subjugations. An ironic practice, because they slaughtered millions of animals for mummification despite considering cats sacred.
Highlighted within the burial grounds was an extraordinary tomb from the New Kingdom, such as the tomb of Maya, King Tut’s wet nurse, repurposed to store cat mummies. A significant discovery mentioned is a tomb found by Waziri in 2022, containing 250 mummies and 150 statues, the largest collection found in Saqqara, dating to the 5th century BC during Persian occupation. Waziri’s continued efforts in the Babastion have led to multiple similar finds even in previously overlooked debris areas.
00:18:00
In this part of the video, it is discussed that a fully intact Book of the Dead was discovered within the sarcophagus of a man named Ahmos. This significant find was announced in January and unveiled at the Cairo museum in February. The papyrus is written in hieratic script, featuring 150 columns and 113 chapters, and measures 16 meters in length, indicating Ahmos’s wealth. It was named Waziri Papyrus 1 in honor of Waziri by his team. The video also mentions the existence of Waziri Papyrus 2, which is currently undergoing restoration.