14 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

An Egyptian Tomb Decorated with Magic Snake Spells Discovered

During excavations at Abusir, between Giza and Saqqara, archaeologists at the Czech Institute of Egyptology (CIE) found an ancient tomb with magic spells that protect the tomb’s occupant against snake bites. The tomb is dated to the  1st millennium BC.

The tomb was uncovered during excavations conducted in April and May, the Czech Institute of Egyptology (CIE) at Charles University in Prague, which led the investigations, announced Friday.

The archaeological site of Abusir is known for its extensive necropolis and pyramid complexes that date back to the Old Kingdom period (2686-2181 BC).

The newly discovered tomb is located in a western section of Abusir that served as a cemetery for high-ranking officials and military commanders from ancient Egypt’s 26th and 27th dynasties.

“It is a richly decorated shaft tomb of medium size, whose owner, a certain Džehutiemhat, held the office of the royal scribe,” explains Ladislav Bareš, who has been coordinating the research of Abusir shaft tombs for a long time.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Analysis of bones recovered from the tomb has determined that Djehutyemhat died at a relatively early age of about 25 years, showing signs of some kind of “occupational disease” (spinal wear), possibly due to sedentary work. He suffered from acute osteoporosis.

A tomb that is approximately 3000 years old. Photo: FF.Cuni.cz.
A tomb that is approximately 3000 years old. Photo: FF.Cuni.cz.

The tomb is a medium-sized shaft tomb adorned with an array of inscriptions, artwork, and texts. Notably, its northern wall features a series of spells designed to safeguard against snake bites. During this era, venomous snakes were a constant threat, and these spells were crucial for protection. Interestingly, the spells also depict snakes as powerful guardians of the deceased and their mummy.

“The snakes mentioned in these magical texts were a potential danger and could serve as powerful protectors of the deceased and his mummy,” the scientists noted.

Renata Landgrafova, director of the Czech Institute of Egyptology and an expert on ancient Egyptian language and texts, noted that the southern and western walls of the tomb were painted with drawings of sacrificial rituals and a long list of victims.

Image of deities on the walls of the tomb. Photo: FF.Cuni.cz.
Image of deities on the walls of the tomb. Photo: FF.Cuni.cz.

The southern and western walls of the burial chamber, hidden almost 50 meters below ground level, are decorated with ritual offerings, and the ceiling displays intricate depictions of the sun’s journey across the sky, accompanied by hymns to the celestial body.

A large stone sarcophagus, adorned with hieroglyphic inscriptions and depictions of gods, sits at the center of the burial chamber. Some of these inscriptions are excerpts from the Book of the Dead, a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts known for their spells and magical formulas.

The upper side of the sarcophagus lid is decorated with three columns of hieroglyphic text with the liturgy of the 178th chapter of the Book of the Dead, which consists of excerpts from much older texts of the pyramids. These texts were thought to guide and protect the deceased in the afterlife.

Image of deities on the walls of the tomb. Photo: FF.Cuni.cz.
Image of deities on the walls of the tomb. Photo: FF.Cuni.cz.

The sarcophagus also features images of goddesses Isis and Nephthys, along with accompanying texts providing protection to the deceased. The presence of Imentet, the goddess of the West, adds a symbolic layer of meaning to the tomb.

The tomb’s magical texts and inscriptions served a profound purpose. They were intended to ensure a smooth and secure journey into the afterlife for the dignitary, Djehutyemhat. This discovery not only sheds light on the individual and their role in this turbulent period but also on the fascinating beliefs and rituals of ancient Egyptians during the 6th to 5th centuries B.C.

CZECH INSTITUTE OF EGYPTOLOGY FF UK

Cover Photo: CZECH INSTITUTE OF EGYPTOLOGY FF UK

Related Articles

Private lodges were uncovered in the colosseum of the ancient city of Pergamon

24 September 2021

24 September 2021

Private lodges built for the elite-class people to watch gladiator or wild animal fights shows have been unearthed in the...

3D virtual reconstruction of the Celtic city gate

2 May 2022

2 May 2022

A new 3D virtual reconstruction of the Celtic gate has been made in Staffelberg, in the German state of Bavaria....

Offerings to goddess Demeter uncovered in archaic temple on Crete island, Greek

17 November 2022

17 November 2022

Nestled between two mountain peaks overlooking the harbor, excavations in the ancient city of Phalasarna revealed hundreds of offerings to...

Archaeologists Found Seal Impressions That Could Change Hittite History in Kayalıpınar

15 September 2023

15 September 2023

A seal impression belonging to Hattusili III was found during the excavations carried out near the village of Kayalıpınar in...

Whispers of Time: Exploring the Enigmatic Bronze Age Towers of Oman

24 February 2025

24 February 2025

The ancient Bronze Age towers scattered across Oman, dating back nearly 5,000 years, have long been a subject of curiosity...

Unique Iron & Viking-Age Mortuary Houses Found in Norway

28 August 2024

28 August 2024

While building a road in the village of Vinjeøra in central Norway, three ancient mortuary houses dating back to the...

Bujeok: Korea’s Ancient Magic That Still Shapes Modern Beliefs

4 October 2025

4 October 2025

How centuries-old talismans bridge archaeology, shamanism, and digital life in one of the world’s most advanced nations. South Korea, a...

In the city of Gods and Goddesses Magnesia, Zeus Temple’s entrance gate found

26 September 2021

26 September 2021

During an excavation in the ancient city of Magnesia, located in the Ortaklar district of Germencik in Turkey’s Aegean province...

Researchers use AI to read words on ancient Herculaneum scroll burned by Vesuvius

13 October 2023

13 October 2023

Researchers used artificial intelligence to extract the first word from one of the first texts in a charred scroll from...

International Sand Sculpture Festival Opens with the Theme “The Lost City of Atlantis”

6 May 2021

6 May 2021

The 16th edition of the International Sand Sculpture Festival (SANDLAND) has begun in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya. Every...

Rare Ancient Bone Game found in Israel “Astragali”

18 August 2022

18 August 2022

Archaeologists have found a rare assemblage of animal knucklebones known as astragali used in ancient Greek games and divination in...

Researchers explored a rock art site near Idupulapaya in India

1 October 2021

1 October 2021

A rock art site was discovered near Idupulapaya in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Rock paintings from the Megalithic...

Ancient Waiting Bench Discovered Outside Pompeii’s Villa of the Mysteries

12 September 2025

12 September 2025

Archaeologists have uncovered an extraordinary find during the latest excavations at the Villa of the Mysteries: an ancient waiting bench...

Part of The ‘Missing Link’ in Human Migration may have been Found in Kaldar Cave

3 April 2021

3 April 2021

Kaldar cave is an important archaeological site that provides evidence for the transition from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic Ages...

Ancient shipwreck dating back to the 2nd century BC was discovered off the coast of Croatia

14 September 2021

14 September 2021

A shipwreck dating to the 2nd century BC has been discovered in the shallow waters of the Adriatic Sea near...