Egyptians Find Tomb

Of God Osiris

2-17-2000

GIZA, Egypt (Reuters) - Sinking water levels have

revealed a granite sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian

god Osiris in a 30-meter (98 feet) deep tomb at the Giza

pyramids, Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass said

Wednesday.

Osiris was one of the most important gods of ancient

Egypt who according to mythology was murdered by his

wicked brother Seth. He was buried by Isis, his

sister-wife, and brought back to life as judge of the dead

and ruler of the underworld.

Hawass said the sarcophagus, which he dated to 500 BC

in the New Kingdom, was surrounded by the remains of

four pillars built in the shape of a hieroglyphic 'Bir' or

'House of Osiris'.

The excavation unearthed 3,000-year-old bones and

pottery found in the underground water, he said.

"I never excavated this shaft because it was always full of

water. But when the water went down about a year ago,

we started the adventure,'' he told Reuters.

After dirt and most of the remaining water were cleared

from the shaft, located between the Sphinx and the

Pyramid of Chefren (Khafre), archaeologists found three

underground levels, with the submerged Osiris

sarcophagus at the lowest.

Many people believed there were tunnels going to the

Sphinx and another leading to the Great Pyramid but only

when we sent a young boy into a tunnel in the west wall

(of the tomb shaft) did we find this exciting discovery,''

said Hawass.

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