The 4,100-year-old tomb lies 25 miles southwest of Cairo, Egypt (Image: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered the 4,100-year-old tomb of a highly skilled physician who served the pharaohs of ancient .
The discovery was uncovered in Saqqara, the site of the ancient city of Memphis, about 25 miles southwest of Cairo, and has been identified as the final resting place of Tetinebefou.
Tetinebefou was a doctor who served during the reign of King Pepi II in the Sixth Dynasty between about 2305 and 2118 BC.
Despite signs of looting, the tomb’s detailed inscriptions and vivid wall paintings remain remarkably intact.
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The tomb’s detailed inscriptions and vivid wall paintings remain remarkably intact (Image: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
According to , the tomb features “stunning carvings and vibrant artwork,” including a painted false door and depictions of funerary offerings.
The inscriptions reveal Tetinebefou held numerous prestigious titles, including “chief doctor of the palace”, “royal dentist” and “director of plant medicine.”
He also held the title of “conjurer of the goddess Serqet”, a goddess who is believed to have been associated with scorpions and was thought to provide protection from their stings.
Tetinebefou was a doctor who served during the reign of King Pepi II in the Sixth Dynasty (Image: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Philippe Collombert, leader of the Swiss-French excavation team, explained that this finding suggests “He [Tetinebefou] was a specialist in treating venomous bites”.
The excavation also uncovered nearby burials of other members of King Pepi II’s court, which included other officials and holy people of Egypt’s ancient dynasties, alongside a stone coffin engraved with hieroglyphics.
However, no human remains were found in Tetinebefou’s tomb itself, adding mystery to the discovery.