Khaberni - After nearly 100 years of confusion and research, a joint Egyptian-French archaeological team has solved one of the most significant mysteries in Egyptology by finally identifying the owner of a mysterious royal tomb in the city of Tanis in the northeast Delta, a city that was a powerful capital of Egypt between the 11th and 7th centuries BCE.
The story began in 1939 when the French Egyptologist Pierre Montet discovered a massive royal tomb near Tanis, and identified all those buried there, except for one coffin immersed in layers of silt and difficult to read due to the damage to its hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Although the features of the coffin and its contents indicated that it belonged to a distinguished figure, its presence inside the tomb of King Osorkon II was surprising, raising questions that remained unanswered for decades, according to local media.
During routine cleaning operations at the site recently, the archaeological team noticed a faint inscription near the coffin, clearly identifying the name "Shoshenq." Inside a small cavity, more than 200 ushabti statues were found, made of decorated faience, all bearing the name of the same king. The French mission director, Frederic Payraudeau, confirmed decisively that the coffin belonged to King Shoshenq, one of the most prominent rulers of the 22nd dynasty.
Archaeologists say that burying kings in the tombs of other rulers was a last resort, especially to protect them from tomb raiding, a frequent occurrence in ancient Egyptian history. Experts believe that Shoshenq, thought to be the grandson of Osorkon II, was buried in his predecessor's tomb either to protect him from political adversaries after his death, or due to a family feud during that period which experienced deep divisions within the ruling family.
Historical records reveal that Shoshenq's reign was a difficult time of political division between the north and the south, weakening central authority while enhancing the power of the military elite. Despite this, the king succeeded in consolidating his influence in the Nile Delta, making Tanis a prosperous city that held palaces, temples, and significant wealth throughout his rule of about 30 years.
