The Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered unique gold jewelry, including a ring engraved with the god of joy, in a tomb over 3,300 years old. The tomb is located north of the former city of Akhetaten, which is now known as Amarna and is located approximately 300 km from Cairo. The city was built by Pharaoh Akhenaten during his reign from 1353 to 1336 BC and was designed as the capital of Egypt when he attempted to change Egyptian polytheism to worship the sun god Aten. However, after his death, the religious reforms were overthrown by his son, Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and the city was eventually abandoned.
The newly discovered jewelry includes three rings, according to the announcement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. One of the rings was engraved with Bes, the god of joy and music, who was considered a patron goddess of women during the reproductive period. Another ring was engraved with hieroglyphs meaning “Lady of the Earth,” but the identity of the woman remains unknown. A gold necklace was also found in the grave.
The excavation team has not yet determined who the owner of the tomb was, why the jewelry was buried with the remains, or if the grave is in a cemetery. The team will continue their excavation in Amarna and are expected to publish their findings in the next few months, according to Anna Stevens, assistant director of the Amarna Project and lecturer at Monash University’s Center for Ancient Cultures in Australia.
