By Ivan Petricevic.
In 1850, French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette embarked on a quest to recover ancient manuscripts for the Louvre Museum in Paris, leading to the discovery of one of the Serapeum mysteries.
In the sweltering heat of 1850, renowned French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette embarked on a monumental expedition, driven by a desire to enrich the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris. His journey took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon a peculiar protrusion in the sands of Saqqara, not far from where the first pyramid of Egypt was built. This curiosity led Mariette to unearth what would soon be recognized as one of Egypt’s most enigmatic discoveries: the entrance to the underground Serapeum. The use of explosives revealed a vast tomb complex, hidden beneath the desert for millennia, sparking intrigue and mystery in the academic world.
The Enigmatic Sarcophagi
Buried under the vast desert were not just corridors, but a 790-foot-long subterranean passage, a hidden world carved into the limestone bedrock. Lining this passage were alcoves, each housing a colossal stone sarcophagus. These weren’t ordinary burial containers; each one was an engineering marvel, approximately 13 feet long, 7.5 feet wide, and towering over 10 feet tall. Weighing an astonishing 70 to 100 tons, with their lids alone weighing about 25 tons, these granite behemoths presented a puzzle: how were these massive structures transported and maneuvered into place by the ancient Egyptians? This question remains one of the most perplexing unsolved mysteries of ancient engineering.
The Apis Bull and Mystical Theories
While mainstream Egyptologists predominantly endorse the theory that these sarcophagi were designed for the sacred Apis bulls, an animal embodiment of the god Osiris, this explanation is not without its detractors. The discovery of just one tomb with animal remains casts a shadow of doubt over this theory. The Apis bull was not merely an animal but a divine symbol, believed to be a terrestrial messenger of the gods. Myths recount the divine birth of the first Apis, born from a cow touched by a heavenly beam of light. This celestial connection fuels speculation about the sarcophagi’s purpose, perhaps as a bridge between the earthly realm and the stars.
The Debate over the Age of the Serapeum
The enigma deepens when delving into the age of the Serapeum. Ancient chroniclers like Herodotus, Strabo, and Eusebius spoke of Egypt’s Golden Age, a time shrouded in myth and legend, possibly dating back as far as 10,500 BC. This era, supposedly a time when deities and mortals coexisted, tantalizes researchers with the possibility that the Serapeum could be a remnant from this mystical epoch. However, the scientific community remains skeptical, often refuting such ancient timelines. This ongoing debate highlights the chasm between traditional archaeological interpretations and more speculative historical theories.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Levant’s Agora.
Original source: https://curiosmos.com/the-mysteries-of-egypts-serapeum-and-the-gigantic-sarcophagi/
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