ALEXANDRIA, Egypt: Egyptian archaeologists on Thursday dashed local hopes that a newly discovered ancient sarcophagus might contain the remains of Alexander the Great, finding instead the mummies of what appeared to be a family of three.
Workmen inadvertently unearthed the approximately 2,000-year-old black granite sealed sarcophagus this month during the construction of an apartment building in the historic Mediterranean port city of Alexandria.
The 30-ton coffin is the largest yet found in Alexandria, prompting a swirl of theories in local and international media that it may be the resting place of the ancient Greek ruler who in 331 BC founded the city that still bears his name.
Egypt’s antiquities ministry had vigorously dismissed the chances of finding Alexander’s remains inside the 30-ton sarcophagus and on Thursday its skepticism was vindicated.
“We found the bones of three people, in what looks like a family burial... Unfortunately the mummies inside were not in the best condition and only the bones remain,” Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters at the site.
Waziri said some of the remains had disintegrated because sewage water from a nearby building had leaked into the sarcophagus through a small crack in one of the sides.
The location of the remains of Alexander the Great, who died in 323 BC in Babylon, remains a mystery.
The sarcophagus in Alexandria is the latest of a series of interesting archaeological finds this year in Egypt that include a 4,400-year-old tomb in Giza and an ancient necropolis in Minya, south of Cairo.
The unmarked tomb in Alexandria did not likely belong to any other notable ruler in the Ptolemaic period (332 BC-30 BC) associated with Alexander the Great, or the subsequent Roman era, Waziri said.
The prospect of opening the long-sealed sarcophagus had stirred fears in Egyptian media that it could unleash a 1,000-year curse.
“We’ve opened it and, thank God, the world has not fallen into darkness, said Waziri.
“I was the first to put my whole head inside the sarcophagus... and here I stand before you ... I am fine.”
Mystery Egypt sarcophagus found not to house Alexander the Great’s remains
Mystery Egypt sarcophagus found not to house Alexander the Great’s remains
- The unmarked tomb in Alexandria did not likely belong to any other notable ruler in the Ptolemaic period (332 BC-30 BC) associated with Alexander the Great, or the subsequent Roman era
- The location of the remains of Alexander the Great, who died in 323 BC in Babylon, remains a mystery
Fady Jameel awarded Chevalier of France’s Order of Arts and Letters
- The Order of Arts and Letters is one of France’s highest cultural honors and is awarded to individuals whose work has contributed to the enrichment of arts and culture in France and internationally
DUBAI: Fady Jameel, chair of Saudi Arabia’s Art Jameel and vice chairman, international, at Abdul Latif Jameel, has been awarded the title of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) by the French Ministry of Culture.
The Order of Arts and Letters is one of France’s highest cultural honors and is awarded to individuals whose work has contributed to the enrichment of arts and culture in France and internationally.
The ceremony took place in Paris last week and was led by French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, with cultural figures from the arts and cinema sectors in attendance.
Jameel’s recognition comes in acknowledgment of the Jameel family’s long-standing philanthropic engagement, including more than 80 years of charitable work and over two decades of arts-focused initiatives led by Art Jameel across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and internationally.
At Art Jameel we really believe in the role of the arts in transforming lives — a value we place at the heart of what we do daily.
Fady Jameel, Art Jameel chair
Art Jameel, founded by the Jameel family, supports artists, institutions and creative communities through exhibitions, grants, research, education and public programs. Its work has included projects that encourage cultural exchange and collaboration between the Middle East and Europe, including France.
In remarks following the ceremony, Jameel said the honor reflected the collective efforts of his family and partners in advancing cultural initiatives, building on a philanthropic legacy that began in Jeddah eight decades ago.
“I would like to thank the Ministry of Culture of France and our colleagues at the French Embassy and Consulate in Saudi Arabia and wish to express my appreciation to colleagues and partners, in both the private and government sectors, for their continued support and encouragement of the cultural sector,” he said in a released statement.
“From Islamic art, craft and artisanship through to the most contemporary and innovative of practices, at Art Jameel we really believe in the role of the arts in transforming lives — a value we place at the heart of what we do daily,” Jameel continued. “Looking ahead, Art Jameel remains committed to strengthening a robust art ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and beyond, through piloting new initiatives that support students, creatives and wider public engagement with the arts, alongside nurturing international exchange.”
