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Mummy coffin sealed 2,600 years ago opened in front of live audience. Viral video sparks mixed reactions

The coffin was found earlier this year in the necropolis of Saqqara, south of Cairo near Memphis, Egypt.

Updated on: Oct 10, 2020, 08:40:22 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
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At a recent event, an ancient mummy coffin, which was sealed nearly 2,600 years ago was opened in front of a live audience in Egypt. A video of the event has now gone all sorts of viral online. While it has left some fascinated, many were not so happy and shared their concerns.

The image shows the mummy coffin which was sealed 2,600 years ago. (Twitter/@NZinEgypt)
The image shows the mummy coffin which was sealed 2,600 years ago. (Twitter/@NZinEgypt)

This is the first of 59 sealed sarcophagi that were found earlier this year in the necropolis of Saqqara, south of Cairo near Memphis, reports Global News. This coffin contained the remains of a long-buried priest wrapped in an ornate burial cloth. It was also decorated to resemble the deceased priest’s face.

Several people are now sharing the video on various social media platforms. Among them is Greg Lewis, New Zealand Ambassador to Egypt. “Honoured to be invited by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities HE Khaled El Anany to Saqqara for the announcement that a new tomb of mummies has been discovered. I saw one being opened for the first time in 2600 years! Truly amazing!” he tweeted.

The video shows a few people opening the coffin as others stand around watching.

With close to 4.9 lakh views, the video has received all sorts of reactions from people. From expressing their amazement to saying this is “disrespectful” to expressing their concerns about people flouting Covid-19 safety rules, people posted varied comments.

A few, jokingly, were reminded of the horror movies involving mummies:

All the coffins will eventually be placed at the new Grand Egyptian Museum for display. The place is currently under construction.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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