Egypt unveils cache of mummified animals
A menagerie of mummified animals went on display south of Cairo on Saturday (November 23)
including what authorities say is the world's largest scarab beetle.
The discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission last year
and uncovered a cache housing ancient artifacts including masks, statues and mummified cats, crocodiles, cobras and birds.
Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary General Mostafa Waziri led the mission.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY-GENERAL OF EGYPTIAN SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES, MOSTAFA WAZIRI, SAYING:
"Animals mummified, and the statues. How many have we found? Hundreds. Is that all? No. We still have a lot in our store magazine. The most lovely discovery out of those hundreds: that scarab. It is the biggest and hugest (largest) scarab all over the world."
CT scans conducted on five of the largest mummified cats revealed that there is a strong likelihood they are actually lion cubs
due to the size and shape of the bones.
The mission also uncovered a tomb belonging to a fifth dynasty royal priest.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF ANTIQUITIES, KHALED AL-ANANY, SAYING:
"Today we are discovering, maybe, another mummies for this small line. It will take some time to announce surely the identity of these five animals. We found hundreds of amulets, bronze, faience, masks, statues of falcons, crocodiles."
Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife.
Animal mummies were used as religious offerings.
