2600 -year -old gold jewelry, found near the Egyptian temple of Karnak

Egypt’s soil still contains many riches steeped in history. After the updating of the grave of the Pharaoh Thoutmôsis II last February, a collection of gold jewelry, dating from 2600 years, was found in a ceramic pot near Luxor, the old ancient Thebes.

More specifically, it was by searching in the northwest sector of the Karnak temple, that a team of Franco-Egyptian researchers discovered this treasure which brings us back to the era of the XXVIE Dynasty (around 664-526 BC). It is made up of amulets, gold jewelry, pearls and other precious stones. “All jewelry is in good conservation” The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities welcomes, in a statement. A major archaeological site, Karnak, the most famous temple in ancient Egypt, was built during the reign of the Pharaoh Sésostris I (1962 BC at 1928 BC) before being enlarged over the millennia by several of his successors like Thoutmôsis III or Ramses II. Amon, the protective god of Thebes, was mainly venerated there.

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A representation of the Theban Triad

Among the many artefacts found, archaeologists have already identified a magnificent gold amulet. This is decorated with three statuettes representing the “Theban triad” Who associates the god Amon, his wife the goddess Mout and the god of the Moon, Khonsou, the son of Amon and Mout. “The golden triad […] is designed in a complex way and integrates perfectly into the temple of Karnak, because this temple is dedicated to the worship of these three deities ” explained the eminent American Egyptologist, Dr. Shelby Justl, at the American scientific site Live Science.

Researchers still ignore why jewelry was hidden in a pot. Several hypotheses have been issued: an offering to the gods of the triad, or a donation to the Karnak temple or a fraudulent displacement committed by thieves? British historian Jack Ogden leans for this last thesis, as he entrusted to our colleagues as Live Science : “A possible explanation is that it would be the booty of a former tomb, hidden, but never found”.