Why was the Pharaohs Ihnton dead

 

**Major Discovery at Saqqara: Tomb of 5th Dynasty Prince Werkaure Uncovered**

 

**Saqqara, Egypt** – In a significant archaeological breakthrough, a joint Egyptian mission has unearthed the tomb of Prince Werkaure, identified as the son of King Userkaf, the founder of the illustrious 5th Dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom (circa 2494–2345 BC). The discovery was made at the renowned Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, by a team comprising experts from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the Dr. Zahi Hawass Center for Egyptology, under the leadership of the famed Egyptologist Dr. Hawass himself.

**Major Discovery at Saqqara: Tomb of 5th Dynasty Prince Werkaure Uncovered**

The excavation 

not only revealed the prince's final resting place but also yielded a wealth of important artifacts dating back to the Old Kingdom and subsequent Late Period, offering fresh insights into this pivotal era of ancient Egyptian history and the later reuse of the sacred site.

 

Sherif Fathy, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, hailed the find, 

stating, "This remarkable discovery contributes significantly to unveiling new secrets of a crucial historical period in the rich tapestry of ancient Egyptian civilization. Each find at Saqqara adds another layer to our understanding of the Old Kingdom's royalty, administration, and funerary beliefs."

 

• A standout feature within the tomb complex is a monumental false door
•  carved from pink granite. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of
•  the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized its unique nature: "This is
•  the first time we have encountered a pink granite false door of such
•  impressive dimensions. Standing at approximately 4.5 meters high and 1.15
•  meters wide, it is a testament to the status of the individual buried here.

" The door is intricately adorned with hieroglyphic inscriptions that meticulously detail Prince Werkaure's name and his distinguished titles, which include "Hereditary Prince," "Regional Governor of Buto and Nekhbet" (important administrative centers in Lower and Upper Egypt, respectively), "Royal Scribe," "Vizier," "Judge,

" and "Lector Priest." These titles paint a picture of a high-ranking official deeply involved in the state's religious and administrative affairs.

 

Dr. Zahi Hawass 

elaborated on other extraordinary finds within the tomb. "For the first time within this context, the mission discovered statues depicting King Djoser (3rd Dynasty) alongside his wife and ten daughters," he revealed. "Preliminary studies suggest these statues were originally housed in a chamber near Djoser's iconic Step Pyramid complex and were moved to Prince Werkaure's tomb during the Late Period (664–332 BC).

1. " This relocation hints at the enduring reverence for Djoser and the complex
2.  patterns of reuse and appropriation within the Saqqara necropolis over
3.  millennia.

 

Further

 discoveries include a substantial red granite offering table, measuring 92.5 cm in diameter, inscribed with lists of offerings intended to sustain the deceased in the afterlife. Within one of the tomb's chambers, excavators uncovered a large black granite statue, 1.17 meters tall, depicting a standing man. Hieroglyphs inscribed on his chest reveal his name and titles, with stylistic analysis suggesting the statue likely dates to the 26th Dynasty (part of the Late Period), further indicating later activity within the Old Kingdom structure.

 

• Additionally, the team located another entrance on the tomb's eastern facade.
•  This entrance features pink granite jambs inscribed with Prince Werkaure's
•  name and titles, alongside the cartouche (royal name enclosure) of King
•  Neferirkare Kakai, the third ruler of the 5th Dynasty. The presence of
•  Neferirkare's name might suggest a connection, perhaps modification 

or continued use of the area, during his reign. A collection of 13 seated statues, crafted from pink granite and depicted on high-backed seats, was also found, adding to the rich corpus of artifacts recovered.

 

This discovery of Prince Werkaure's tomb

 enriched by artifacts from both the Old Kingdom and the Late Period, underscores Saqqara's continuous importance as a sacred burial ground and provides invaluable material for understanding the lineage, power structures, and funerary practices of the 5th Dynasty's formative years. Ongoing research promises to shed further light on the life of Prince Werkaure and the complex history of his final resting place.