During excavation work at a site in the El-Shatby neighbourhood of Alexandria, an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Ministry of Antiquities discovered a rock-hewn tomb that can be dated to the Hellenistic period (323-30 BC).

Mahmoud Afifi, head of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities at the ministry, told Ahram Online that studies on the architectural style of the tomb’s decorative elements and pottery sherds found at the site show that the tomb dates to the time of Greek occupation in Egypt.

The tomb is composed of four halls with burial shafts decorated with geometric, coloured designs as well as funerary prayers written in ancient Greek.

Mustafa Rushdi, director-general of Antiquities of the Western Delta and Alexandria told Ahram Online that the mission found around 300 artefacts within the tomb’s hall. Among the objects were pottery vessels, a terracotta statue and lamps made of clay.

During the next archaeological season, the mission plans to study the funerary phrases written on the tombs to identify their owners.

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