- Egyptian archaeologists have discovered missing sections of the so-called Sphinx Road and the bottom part of an unknown pyramid in Sakkara area some 30 kilometres south of Cairo. The Sakkara area hosts Egypt's oldest pyramids.
In a press release, the Egyptian Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) today announced the discovery of the bottom part of a pyramid, which was believed to belong to King Menkauhor - from 2444 BC to 2436 BC - of the Fifth Dynasty.
Sakkara is the main section of the great necropolis belonging to the city of Memphis; the Old Kingdom capital. Most of the kings of the Memphis-based 1st dynasty as well as those of the 2nd dynasty are buried in this section of the capital's necropolis. It is a place that has been of constant interest to Egyptologists.
SCA chief Zahi Hawwas says the discovery is among the most important made in the Sakkara area lately, and emphasises on the discovered sections of the Sphinx Road. The road was mentioned in some ancient Greek manuscripts, according Mr Hawwas.
According to him, it is believed that the discovered parts of the road are connected to the passage leading to Anubis Temples of the jackal-headed god associated with mummification and the afterlife in Egyptian mythology.
Three major discoveries have recently been made at Sakkara, according to the Council, including a prime minister's tomb, a queen's pyramid, and the tomb of the son of a dynasty-founding king. "Each discovery has a fascinating story, with many adventures for the archaeologists as they revealed the secrets of the past," Mr Hawwas said.
Sakkara is best known for the Step Pyramid, the oldest known of Egypt's 97 pyramids. It was built for King Djoser of the 3rd Dynasty by the architect and genius Imhotep, who designed it and its surrounding complex to be as grand as it was; unique and revolutionary. In addition to the newly discovered and the Djoser pyramid, there are another 16 pyramids on the site.
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