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♪ ♪

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♪ ♪

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NARRATOR:
In Egypt, a team
of archaeologists has made

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an extraordinary discovery.

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ZAHI HAWASS:
I never thought

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that anything like this
would be discovered.

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NARRATOR:
A cemetery hidden for millennia.

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AFIFI ROHIM:
We can see the burial chamber.

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NARRATOR:
No one knew of its existence.

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00:00:25,866 --> 00:00:28,100
We are in front
of a sealed tomb.

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NARRATOR:
How many tombs will they find?

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This is really exciting.

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NARRATOR:
What lies within?

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ROHIM:
We are sure

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that this tomb intact tomb.

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NARRATOR:
Now, from the Egyptian desert,

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incredible artifacts emerge.

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HAWASS:
Beautiful--
this is the first time

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I see something like this.

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NARRATOR:
Who was buried here?

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These individuals were wealthy.

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NARRATOR:
Now these lost tombs
are revealing

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a unique period
in Egyptian history,

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when kings from the south
conquered and ruled Egypt

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and Egyptian women

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had more power and prestige
than ever before.

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JULIA BUDKA:
The god's wife of Amun

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was really the female substitute
of the king.

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MARIAM AYAD:
The god's wife of Amun

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was as important
as a medieval pope.

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NARRATOR:
Who were these outsiders
who ruled Egypt?

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And how did they help women
rise to such heights?

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♪ ♪

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"Egypt's Tombs of Amun,"

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right now, on "NOVA."

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♪ ♪

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♪ ♪

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NARRATOR:
Ancient Egypt,

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a civilization that lasted
for more than 3,000 years.

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From towering pyramids

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to palatial rock-cut tombs,

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from sprawling temples

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to soaring obelisks,

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its long history
is meticulously recorded

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on the walls
of Egyptian temples,

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colossal statues,

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and the artifacts the Egyptians
buried in their tombs.

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Leading the Egyptian people

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was a succession
of about 300 rulers,

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divided into 31 dynasties

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lasting from around 3200
to 300 BCE.

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These were the pharaohs,
who were both heads of state,

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as well as divine intermediaries

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between the people
and their gods.

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Most of the history
of Ancient Egypt

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unfolds over three major periods
of unity and prosperity.

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The Old Kingdom,
the era of the pyramids.

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The Middle Kingdom,
a classical age,

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when literature and the arts
flourished.

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And the New Kingdom,
when Egypt extended its control

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beyond its borders
and became an empire.

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As well as three periods
of instability in between,

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called the First, Second,
and Third Intermediate Periods.

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The New Kingdom is probably
the best-known

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period in Ancient Egypt

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because we have
all those temples,

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we have huge amounts

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of royal stelar
texts and inscriptions.

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Egypt was completely connected
with the Mediterranean,

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with the Near East,

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with the south.

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It's really the first evidence

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for globalization
in our history.

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♪ ♪

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People were living together,
people were copying things,

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they're creating something new.

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NARRATOR:
The New Kingdom is considered
Egypt's golden age,

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a time of wealth, prosperity,
and power.

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♪ ♪

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Pharaohs like Ramesses II

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and Hatshepsut

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build magnificent temples,
and incredible treasures,

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like the ones found in the tomb
of Tutankhamun,

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are produced.

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But after nearly
500 years of splendor,

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things start to change.

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There were internal
political problems,

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economic problems,

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periods of hunger, civil wars.

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NARRATOR:
During this time
of declining prosperity,

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the state collapses,

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allowing
self-proclaimed regional rulers

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to grab power
and divide the country.

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After the fall of the New
Kingdom,

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Egypt fell into a dark, dark,
dark age

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of political fragmentation.

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It's known as the
Third Intermediate Period.

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NARRATOR:
Starting in 1069 BCE,

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the Third Intermediate Period
lasts for more than 300 years.

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The archaeological record from
this period of Egyptian history

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is fragmented.

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The story of the people

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who lived during these times
is largely unknown.

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But now

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new information
is being uncovered

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400 miles south of Cairo,

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in an excavation happening

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in Egypt's richest
archaeological area:

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Luxor.

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BUDKA:
The modern city of Luxor

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was the ancient Thebes,
and for centuries, it was

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the religious capital of Egypt.

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NARRATOR:
Some of the most
famous ancient sites are here:

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temples to the most
important gods

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on the East Bank of the Nile;

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the funerary temples
of the pharaohs

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and the vast Necropolis, or
city of the dead, to the west.

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The popular belief is,
we know already everything.

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We have deciphered
the hieroglyphs.

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We have so many temples
and tombs.

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We know what happened.

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This is actually not the case.

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And every
single archaeological dig

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can teach you a lot.

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NARRATOR:
In September 2020,

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a team of Egyptian
archaeologists

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led by Zahi Hawass

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started excavating a new site
there,

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on the West Bank of the Nile,

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and discovered a long-lost city.

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We discovered one house,

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and this house led us to this
major important discovery.

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The lost golden city.

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NARRATOR:
Built by Tutankhamun's
grandfather

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Amenhotep III

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in the 14th century BCE,

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the lost city is a sprawling
maze of serpentine walls,

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houses, workshops, and
administration buildings.

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For centuries,
no one knew of its existence.

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The lost city is built
on prime ancient real estate

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in the area known
as Medinet Habu

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on the West Bank of
the ancient city of Thebes.

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It took the archaeologists
nearly two years

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to fully excavate it.

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HAWASS:
When we found
the lost golden city,

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I really wanted to extend
the area in the north.

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This is known in the map

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as the Triangle.

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This area is empty--
no one really ever excavated it.

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NARRATOR:
For decades, it's been just
a patch of desert

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next to the main tourist route.

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Every morning,
dozens of buses whiz past

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on their way
to the famous sites.

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Hundreds of tourists take
to the sky on hot air balloons.

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It would seem an unlikely place
for a big discovery.

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♪ ♪

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In September 2022,

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two years after the lost city
was discovered,

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the team starts excavating
the Triangle.

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As soon as the archaeologists

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remove the first layer of sand,
they uncover mud bricks--

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evidence that there might
be more to be found.

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Zahi decides to concentrate
the team's efforts in this area.

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Within days, they uncover
a row of large pottery vessels.

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Remarkably,
they are still sealed.

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As they open one, they are about
to find something very telling:

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a clear indication
of what this site once was.

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Huh.

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What's this?

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It's kind of plants.

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NARRATOR:
The plants appear
to have been burned.

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What's this?

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ROHIM:
Linen.
Linen?

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And we will take all
the filling outside

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to be sure
what's behind this.

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HAWASS:
Oh!

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Broken pottery!

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This is a ritual.

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NARRATOR:
The contents of the pots
all relate

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to a funerary ritual.

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BUDKA:
During mummification,

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the embalming workshops
produced leftovers

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that was regarded
as something important.

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They were not just put somewhere

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as trash, but
they were arranged in deposits.

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Sometimes they deposited linen,

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organic remains,
botanical remains.

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Very often, we find broken pots
inside the vessels.

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And this is what in general
we call embalming cache.

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NARRATOR:
An embalming cache
is the collection

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of the precious leftovers
of materials

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used during the mummification
process.

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BUDKA:
Finding a cache
of embalming material

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tells you immediately

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that you have found something
associated with a cemetery.

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And you should probably look
for a tomb nearby.

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NARRATOR:
This is a momentous find.

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♪ ♪

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Is the team on the verge
of a new important discovery?

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00:10:35,133 --> 00:10:37,400
(people talking in background)

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Excited, they split into groups,

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each tackling a different
corner of the Triangle.

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Soon, they uncover evidence
of several tombs.

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The archaeologists are standing

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00:10:51,366 --> 00:10:55,133
on a previously unknown
burial ground.

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It's not every day that you find
a brand-new cemetery.

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00:11:00,433 --> 00:11:02,200
So this is really exciting.

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NARRATOR:
When was this cemetery built?

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00:11:08,366 --> 00:11:10,233
And who was buried here?

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00:11:10,233 --> 00:11:14,166
HAWASS:
Work in this big, large
cemetery, it's a challenge.

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00:11:15,866 --> 00:11:17,900
It needs to be excavated
completely

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00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:19,700
to understand the date.

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00:11:21,333 --> 00:11:24,133
The excavation will give us
more information

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about the people who are buried
in this large cemetery.

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BUDKA:
The burials are located
on the West Bank,

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because in the Egyptian concept
of the netherworld,

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the entrance to the netherworld
is on the west.

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00:11:39,366 --> 00:11:41,600
The sun rises in the east

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00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,066
and sets in the west,

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00:11:44,066 --> 00:11:48,166
and this is what a human life
should repeat.

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♪ ♪

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NARRATOR:
The Ancient Egyptians
invested vast amounts

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00:11:53,566 --> 00:11:55,533
of wealth and energy

224
00:11:55,533 --> 00:11:58,933
preparing for life after death.

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00:11:58,933 --> 00:12:02,166
The belief of the afterlife
built Egypt.

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00:12:04,633 --> 00:12:08,966
That belief made the Egyptian
to build pyramids,

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00:12:08,966 --> 00:12:10,966
tombs, and temples.

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00:12:10,966 --> 00:12:15,700
NARRATOR:
They believed that life
continued after death,

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00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:19,233
and the tomb was considered
the house for eternity.

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00:12:19,233 --> 00:12:20,966
For those who could afford it,

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00:12:20,966 --> 00:12:24,333
the mummified body
would have laid to rest

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00:12:24,333 --> 00:12:27,866
inside beautifully decorated
tombs.

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00:12:27,866 --> 00:12:30,666
BUDKA:
There's the popular belief
that the Ancient Egyptians

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00:12:30,666 --> 00:12:33,333
were obsessed by death,
and that they were only

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00:12:33,333 --> 00:12:36,133
caring about life
in the netherworld.

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00:12:36,133 --> 00:12:38,600
This is, of course, definitely
not the case.

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00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:39,866
The Egyptians were people
like us,

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00:12:39,866 --> 00:12:43,000
so they wanted to live.

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00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,633
Mortuary rituals
is actually something

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00:12:46,633 --> 00:12:49,766
that helps the living
to overcome,

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00:12:49,766 --> 00:12:52,266
um, their sorrow, their grief.

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00:12:52,266 --> 00:12:54,066
♪ ♪

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00:12:54,066 --> 00:12:56,833
What you find in tombs

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00:12:56,833 --> 00:12:59,900
tells you so much about society
and about the living.

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00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:03,733
♪ ♪

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00:13:05,766 --> 00:13:08,533
NARRATOR:
Tombs are time capsules

247
00:13:08,533 --> 00:13:10,733
that can preserve information

248
00:13:10,733 --> 00:13:12,800
about ancient people
for millennia.

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00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:19,533
HAWASS:
You can gain a lot of knowledge
and information about burials,

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00:13:19,533 --> 00:13:21,700
and that's why this cemetery
needs more excavation.

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00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,433
NARRATOR:
The tombs in the Triangle
are all different.

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00:13:26,433 --> 00:13:29,200
Some have a shaft dug straight
into the ground.

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00:13:30,433 --> 00:13:33,800
And at the bottom, they open up
to the burial chamber.

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00:13:35,700 --> 00:13:38,366
Some have grand entrances,
complete with a staircase,

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00:13:38,366 --> 00:13:40,700
and more than one room
carved into the rock.

256
00:13:45,533 --> 00:13:50,533
Archaeology is dangerous
for archaeologists.

257
00:13:50,533 --> 00:13:53,033
♪ ♪

258
00:13:53,033 --> 00:13:54,733
It's hard work.

259
00:13:58,666 --> 00:14:00,833
(man grunts,
people talking in background)

260
00:14:00,833 --> 00:14:03,133
It's to live dangerously.

261
00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:09,300
But to live dangerously,
it's fun, also.

262
00:14:11,166 --> 00:14:14,166
It's amazing when you make
a new, important discovery.

263
00:14:14,166 --> 00:14:17,400
♪ ♪

264
00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,000
You completely forget dangers.

265
00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,233
Archaeology is
like a box of chocolate.

266
00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,433
What is this?

267
00:14:26,433 --> 00:14:27,533
You never know what you get.

268
00:14:30,766 --> 00:14:32,800
Looks like part of a necklet.

269
00:14:37,866 --> 00:14:40,500
NARRATOR:
Four months into the excavation,

270
00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:43,566
and the archaeologists
haven't found any mummies yet.

271
00:14:43,566 --> 00:14:47,700
But intriguing artifacts
emerge from the tombs.

272
00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:50,066
ROHIM:
Here I found a metal eye

273
00:14:50,066 --> 00:14:52,100
used in wooden coffins.

274
00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:53,100
Wow!

275
00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:54,800
NARRATOR:
A gold ring

276
00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,133
with a carved carnelian.

277
00:14:57,133 --> 00:15:00,966
Amulets believed to protect
the deceased

278
00:15:00,966 --> 00:15:03,933
with their magical powers.

279
00:15:03,933 --> 00:15:07,100
And shabtis,
images of the tomb owner,

280
00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:10,333
who the ancient Egyptians
believed

281
00:15:10,333 --> 00:15:12,933
did all the manual labor
in the netherworld.

282
00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,066
With only one month left
before desert temperatures rise

283
00:15:21,066 --> 00:15:23,966
and work must stop,

284
00:15:23,966 --> 00:15:26,766
site director Afifi Rohim
starts working

285
00:15:26,766 --> 00:15:31,633
in tomb number six, one that
he finds most promising.

286
00:15:32,833 --> 00:15:34,433
The cut in the mountain
is very good.

287
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:37,866
We have a staircase
and we have this corridor.

288
00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:44,400
Till now, most of the debris
is still original debris.

289
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:45,466
Mm.

290
00:15:45,466 --> 00:15:47,233
(speaking Arabic)

291
00:15:47,233 --> 00:15:48,633
(Ahmed El Nasseh
speaking Arabic)

292
00:15:48,633 --> 00:15:51,133
ROHIM:

293
00:15:51,133 --> 00:15:54,766
(Baghdadi speaking Arabic)

294
00:15:54,766 --> 00:15:55,800
ROHIM:
Mm.

295
00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:57,366
(others speaking Arabic)

296
00:15:57,366 --> 00:15:59,500
ROHIM:

297
00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:00,566
BAGHDADI:

298
00:16:00,566 --> 00:16:02,533
ROHIM:

299
00:16:02,533 --> 00:16:03,833
BAGHDADI:

300
00:16:03,833 --> 00:16:06,366
ROHIM:
Mm.

301
00:16:06,366 --> 00:16:11,300
NARRATOR:
Most tombs discovered in Egypt
have been looted in antiquity.

302
00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:14,033
If there are no objects
mixed in the sand,

303
00:16:14,033 --> 00:16:15,700
it could mean two things:

304
00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:19,966
either the tomb is unfinished
or no one has entered it

305
00:16:19,966 --> 00:16:23,000
since it was sealed
thousands of years ago.

306
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,866
HAWASS:
There is no tomb

307
00:16:24,866 --> 00:16:26,866
that could be looted

308
00:16:26,866 --> 00:16:30,966
if, in a shaft,
you have clean sand.

309
00:16:30,966 --> 00:16:32,566
NARRATOR:
This is tantalizing evidence

310
00:16:32,566 --> 00:16:37,200
that tomb number six
might be intact.

311
00:16:38,866 --> 00:16:42,466
The workers remove
bucket after bucket of sand.

312
00:16:42,466 --> 00:16:45,833
♪ ♪

313
00:16:49,733 --> 00:16:54,233
Then, suddenly, the density
of the sediment changes.

314
00:16:55,633 --> 00:16:58,466
ROHIM:
He start to find
very compact layer.

315
00:16:58,466 --> 00:17:00,533
Looks like mother rock.

316
00:17:00,533 --> 00:17:02,800
And this means
that all this layer

317
00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,933
was the original layer,

318
00:17:04,933 --> 00:17:07,633
which, in the ancient time,
they make it

319
00:17:07,633 --> 00:17:10,333
the filling for the shaft.

320
00:17:10,333 --> 00:17:13,100
If it is,
it will be really untouch.

321
00:17:15,066 --> 00:17:17,900
NARRATOR:
What drives archaeologists
to endure

322
00:17:17,900 --> 00:17:20,666
the hot desert environment
is the promise

323
00:17:20,666 --> 00:17:23,866
of revealing
long-forgotten histories

324
00:17:23,866 --> 00:17:26,300
and, sometimes, the chance

325
00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:31,866
to come face to face
with an Ancient Egyptian.

326
00:17:33,866 --> 00:17:36,300
In tomb number six,
skilled worker Baghdadi

327
00:17:36,300 --> 00:17:40,100
is getting closer
to the bottom of the shaft.

328
00:17:41,433 --> 00:17:43,933
For archaeologist
Ahmed El Nasseh,

329
00:17:43,933 --> 00:17:46,066
this tomb is puzzling.

330
00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:49,700
EL NASSEH:
We are still confused
because we have natural layers,

331
00:17:49,700 --> 00:17:51,200
the compact layer,

332
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,966
similar to the bedrock,
and below,

333
00:17:53,966 --> 00:17:55,933
we have sandy layer,
which is loose.

334
00:17:55,933 --> 00:17:57,200
We will follow the bedrock

335
00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,766
to find the limit
of the burial shaft.

336
00:17:59,766 --> 00:18:01,500
(Baghdadi and El Nasseh
speaking Arabic)

337
00:18:04,733 --> 00:18:05,766
EL NASSEH:
He found mudbrick,

338
00:18:05,766 --> 00:18:07,366
so, I think we are

339
00:18:07,366 --> 00:18:09,200
in front of the blocked doorway.

340
00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:10,700
♪ ♪

341
00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:12,500
NARRATOR:
It's exciting news.

342
00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:14,966
There's a good chance
the burial chamber

343
00:18:14,966 --> 00:18:16,966
has not been opened

344
00:18:16,966 --> 00:18:18,766
since it was originally sealed
with mudbrick

345
00:18:18,766 --> 00:18:22,400
thousands of years ago.

346
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,666
Good news at the end of the day.

347
00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:29,766
♪ ♪

348
00:18:29,766 --> 00:18:33,033
NARRATOR:
The following day
at the excavation site,

349
00:18:33,033 --> 00:18:35,366
it all looks
like a normal morning.

350
00:18:38,166 --> 00:18:42,533
But just below the surface
in tomb number six,

351
00:18:42,533 --> 00:18:44,566
the expectations are high.

352
00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:50,166
Afifi is checking the mudbricks
that block the entrance

353
00:18:50,166 --> 00:18:53,166
to the burial chamber.

354
00:18:53,166 --> 00:18:58,366
ROHIM:
The seal of the doorway is just
directly under the mother rock.

355
00:18:58,366 --> 00:19:02,966
It means that it,
it never open before.

356
00:19:02,966 --> 00:19:05,566
This tomb was confusing for us.

357
00:19:05,566 --> 00:19:07,766
In the beginning, we thought

358
00:19:07,766 --> 00:19:10,833
there's nothing here.

359
00:19:10,833 --> 00:19:14,100
Was thinking that, stop the work
and leave the shaft.

360
00:19:15,500 --> 00:19:17,900
NARRATOR:
And Afifi is also concerned

361
00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:22,600
about the safety of the crew
working in the tomb.

362
00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,133
The mother rock is not straight,

363
00:19:24,133 --> 00:19:27,366
so I try to check if it is still
in original situ

364
00:19:27,366 --> 00:19:28,800
or just fall down.

365
00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:32,900
NARRATOR:
On closer inspection,

366
00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:36,300
Afifi notices that a couple
of the mudbricks have collapsed

367
00:19:36,300 --> 00:19:37,966
under the weight of the rock
above,

368
00:19:37,966 --> 00:19:39,500
leaving a small opening.

369
00:19:41,566 --> 00:19:45,800
Over time,
the sand has seeped through.

370
00:19:46,833 --> 00:19:49,733
With great anticipation,

371
00:19:49,733 --> 00:19:51,333
Baghdadi starts removing
the mudbricks.

372
00:19:53,833 --> 00:19:56,233
Once the passage is cleared,

373
00:19:56,233 --> 00:19:59,533
work inside the chamber begins.

374
00:19:59,533 --> 00:20:02,233
At first, it's just clean sand.

375
00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,466
But soon, artifacts emerge.

376
00:20:07,466 --> 00:20:08,966
HAWASS:
Is this amethyst?

377
00:20:08,966 --> 00:20:10,433
Huh?
ROHIM:
Yeah, could be.

378
00:20:11,866 --> 00:20:15,133
Oh, oh!

379
00:20:15,133 --> 00:20:17,866
Beautiful vase-- God!

380
00:20:17,866 --> 00:20:19,700
(chuckles)
Hm.

381
00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:21,200
This is not Egyptian.

382
00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,666
This is so strange.

383
00:20:23,666 --> 00:20:27,500
Doesn't looks Egyptian--
even the colors.

384
00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:30,566
NARRATOR:
The style of this tiny pot
is nothing

385
00:20:30,566 --> 00:20:34,333
like any artifact
the team has found before.

386
00:20:34,333 --> 00:20:37,700
Was it imported
from a distant land?

387
00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:39,866
HAWASS:
This is a very important
discovery.

388
00:20:39,866 --> 00:20:43,233
The artifacts are now
really unique.

389
00:20:43,233 --> 00:20:45,800
Very happy.

390
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,700
NARRATOR:
Then Zahi comes face to face

391
00:20:49,700 --> 00:20:51,066
with a special object.

392
00:20:51,066 --> 00:20:52,433
HAWASS
(speaking Arabic):

393
00:20:52,433 --> 00:20:54,833
This is the first time

394
00:20:54,833 --> 00:20:58,633
I see something like this.

395
00:20:58,633 --> 00:21:02,366
The lady is seated,

396
00:21:02,366 --> 00:21:04,133
having a gazelle on her hand

397
00:21:04,133 --> 00:21:06,766
and holding her son on the back.

398
00:21:08,466 --> 00:21:10,500
Can you hold this?

399
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,633
This is another one.

400
00:21:16,633 --> 00:21:18,266
She is standing,

401
00:21:18,266 --> 00:21:21,833
and on her back,
she is holding a child.

402
00:21:21,833 --> 00:21:25,433
This could be someone
from outside Egypt.

403
00:21:25,433 --> 00:21:28,566
NARRATOR:
The statuettes confirm
Zahi's hunch.

404
00:21:28,566 --> 00:21:33,700
The style of the artifacts
is not traditionally Egyptian.

405
00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:36,566
The depiction of the face
hints at people

406
00:21:36,566 --> 00:21:39,966
originating from
beyond Egypt's borders.

407
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:46,100
And then there's
the speckled texture.

408
00:21:46,100 --> 00:21:48,000
The distinctive spotted look,

409
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,633
combined with the shapely
woman's frame,

410
00:21:50,633 --> 00:21:53,266
was only produced
during a crucial moment

411
00:21:53,266 --> 00:21:55,833
in the history of Egypt,

412
00:21:55,833 --> 00:21:59,833
when the country is ruled
by foreigners:

413
00:21:59,833 --> 00:22:02,400
the 11th century BCE,

414
00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,366
the start of the unstable
Third Intermediate Period.

415
00:22:06,366 --> 00:22:09,833
Egypt had economic problems,
only very short-lived kings,

416
00:22:09,833 --> 00:22:15,466
quarrels about the inheritance
of the throne.

417
00:22:15,466 --> 00:22:16,600
Egypt was vulnerable.

418
00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:21,666
NARRATOR:
But this changes when
Egypt's southern neighbors,

419
00:22:21,666 --> 00:22:24,333
the Kushites--
also known as the Nubians--

420
00:22:24,333 --> 00:22:29,333
take advantage of Egypt's
weakness, and, in 712 BCE,

421
00:22:29,333 --> 00:22:33,466
they move in and conquer
the Land of the Pharaohs.

422
00:22:33,466 --> 00:22:35,033
We refer to the Kushites

423
00:22:35,033 --> 00:22:38,666
as the kings of the XXV dynasty.

424
00:22:38,666 --> 00:22:41,933
And this dynasty was originally
coming from modern Sudan.

425
00:22:41,933 --> 00:22:45,200
NARRATOR:
Known for rich deposits of gold,

426
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:51,033
Nubia is home to some
of Africa's earliest kingdoms.

427
00:22:51,033 --> 00:22:53,700
The Egyptians first called Nubia
Ta-Seti,

428
00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:55,666
the Land of the Bow,

429
00:22:55,666 --> 00:22:58,866
highlighting the skill
of Nubian warriors.

430
00:22:58,866 --> 00:23:01,700
BUDKA:
When the Kushites invaded Egypt,

431
00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:03,933
they erected
a very, very powerful

432
00:23:03,933 --> 00:23:09,533
and very successful empire
for roughly 70, 80 years.

433
00:23:10,766 --> 00:23:12,566
AYAD:
The Nubians were restorers.

434
00:23:12,566 --> 00:23:16,166
After things were destroyed
and the temples were neglected,

435
00:23:16,166 --> 00:23:19,466
the Nubians were now going
to take care of everything,

436
00:23:19,466 --> 00:23:20,866
put everything back in order.

437
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:25,266
NARRATOR:
Egypt is prosperous again.

438
00:23:25,266 --> 00:23:28,266
♪ ♪

439
00:23:28,266 --> 00:23:32,333
BUDKA:
They made themselves kings
of both Egypt and Kush.

440
00:23:32,333 --> 00:23:35,900
The Egyptian culture
was part of their own heritage,

441
00:23:35,900 --> 00:23:40,433
because, in the New Kingdom,
Nubia was an Egyptian colony.

442
00:23:42,366 --> 00:23:44,500
NARRATOR:
Few written records
or artifacts of the people

443
00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:48,933
that lived under Kushite rule
in Egypt survive today.

444
00:23:48,933 --> 00:23:53,200
Which makes what the team
is unearthing in the Triangle

445
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,566
especially rare.

446
00:23:55,566 --> 00:23:58,066
(speaking Arabic):

447
00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:03,366
I really could not believe

448
00:24:03,366 --> 00:24:05,633
that statues like this could
exist.

449
00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:08,766
It's unique.

450
00:24:08,766 --> 00:24:11,566
The color.

451
00:24:11,566 --> 00:24:13,200
They are very realistic.

452
00:24:14,533 --> 00:24:19,000
NARRATOR:
Not only do the two statuettes
both show a woman,

453
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,133
but some of the small pots
that have been found

454
00:24:21,133 --> 00:24:23,033
are for makeup.

455
00:24:23,033 --> 00:24:26,800
This tomb for sure belonged
this woman.

456
00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,233
NARRATOR:
Women in Ancient Egypt
have the right to buy

457
00:24:30,233 --> 00:24:32,666
and inherit property.

458
00:24:32,666 --> 00:24:34,433
They can represent themselves
in court,

459
00:24:34,433 --> 00:24:36,666
own a business,
and get divorced.

460
00:24:36,666 --> 00:24:40,600
But it isn't exactly
an egalitarian society.

461
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,933
BUDKA:
There was a small percentage
of women

462
00:24:43,933 --> 00:24:45,533
who were highly privileged,

463
00:24:45,533 --> 00:24:48,733
but nevertheless, there was
a gender bias in Ancient Egypt.

464
00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:52,666
This is why I think
it's not fair to say

465
00:24:52,666 --> 00:24:55,433
it's a paradise for women
in the ancient world.

466
00:24:55,433 --> 00:24:58,433
NARRATOR:
But when the Kushites
take over Egypt,

467
00:24:58,433 --> 00:25:01,600
they bring with them
a Nubian culture

468
00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,300
in which women have power.

469
00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:07,433
In the Kushite time,

470
00:25:07,433 --> 00:25:10,266
women had a different status

471
00:25:10,266 --> 00:25:11,700
than before and after.

472
00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,833
There is a matrilineal system
for the Kushite kingdom.

473
00:25:18,833 --> 00:25:20,133
It was more important

474
00:25:20,133 --> 00:25:22,433
who was your mother
than who was your father.

475
00:25:22,433 --> 00:25:24,600
And this might be
the main difference

476
00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,100
between Egypt and Kush.

477
00:25:29,666 --> 00:25:32,000
♪ ♪

478
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:35,433
NARRATOR:
Mariam Ayad has spent
her entire career studying

479
00:25:35,433 --> 00:25:37,200
Ancient Egyptian women,

480
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,733
and especially the women
of the XXV dynasty.

481
00:25:40,733 --> 00:25:43,233
Zahi has invited Mariam

482
00:25:43,233 --> 00:25:48,066
to see the objects found
in tomb number six.

483
00:25:48,066 --> 00:25:50,766
HAWASS:
This tomb was really unique.

484
00:25:50,766 --> 00:25:53,266
We found some very impressive
artifacts.

485
00:25:53,266 --> 00:25:55,400
If you look at the face...
AYAD:
Yeah?

486
00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:56,566
...it looks Nubian to me.

487
00:25:56,566 --> 00:25:58,400
It does look Nubian,
for sure.

488
00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,266
This body type of
the standing woman...
Yeah.

489
00:26:02,266 --> 00:26:04,500
That body type we find a lot
during the XXV dynasty.
Yes.

490
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:08,266
The heavier lower body,
the heavier hips.

491
00:26:08,266 --> 00:26:11,033
I have never seen
statues like this.

492
00:26:11,033 --> 00:26:14,233
I don't think there's ever
statues of that type

493
00:26:14,233 --> 00:26:16,666
ever produced before
or possibly even after.

494
00:26:16,666 --> 00:26:20,033
♪ ♪

495
00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:27,366
NARRATOR:
When the Kushites conquer Egypt
around 700 BCE,

496
00:26:27,366 --> 00:26:29,633
they decide to embrace

497
00:26:29,633 --> 00:26:31,700
the Egyptians' religious customs
and beliefs.

498
00:26:32,766 --> 00:26:36,066
BUDKA:
In Ancient Egypt,
we cannot separate

499
00:26:36,066 --> 00:26:37,133
kingship from religion.

500
00:26:37,133 --> 00:26:39,533
Pharaohs invested so much

501
00:26:39,533 --> 00:26:42,233
in the religious landscape
of Thebes.

502
00:26:43,233 --> 00:26:48,033
NARRATOR:
And this strategy is
best seen at Karnak,

503
00:26:48,033 --> 00:26:52,266
a vast temple complex
where pharaohs dedicated

504
00:26:52,266 --> 00:26:55,500
great building projects to Amun,
the king of the gods.

505
00:26:55,500 --> 00:26:59,700
♪ ♪

506
00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:01,733
When the Kushite kings arrive,

507
00:27:01,733 --> 00:27:06,133
they, too,
make their marks here.

508
00:27:06,133 --> 00:27:09,633
One of the monuments,
built by Kushite king Taharqa,

509
00:27:09,633 --> 00:27:12,433
reveals a new and distinctive

510
00:27:12,433 --> 00:27:16,833
level of power for women
in Egypt.

511
00:27:16,833 --> 00:27:19,433
AYAD:
We're here by the edifice of
Taharqa at the sacred lake.

512
00:27:19,433 --> 00:27:22,066
We can't call it the temple,
because it doesn't have

513
00:27:22,066 --> 00:27:24,766
some of the main features
we associate with temples.

514
00:27:25,966 --> 00:27:27,333
The only part of the building

515
00:27:27,333 --> 00:27:31,400
that survives is
the subterranean chambers.

516
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,700
NARRATOR:
What's special
about this monument

517
00:27:33,700 --> 00:27:36,566
is a relief on a wall
hidden from view.

518
00:27:36,566 --> 00:27:39,666
AYAD: And because there's
no proper entrance,

519
00:27:39,666 --> 00:27:42,333
we'll have to climb up.

520
00:27:42,333 --> 00:27:43,933
It's a part of the building
with ritual scenes

521
00:27:43,933 --> 00:27:46,633
that are unique
and not found elsewhere.

522
00:27:48,966 --> 00:27:53,600
NARRATOR:
The scene Mariam is looking for
is one-of-a-kind.

523
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:58,833
It depicts two figures
protecting a sacred tomb.

524
00:27:58,833 --> 00:28:00,533
AYAD:
On either side,

525
00:28:00,533 --> 00:28:04,633
the figures are facing outward
as a way of protecting it.

526
00:28:04,633 --> 00:28:07,233
In Egyptian art,
it's very rare for figures

527
00:28:07,233 --> 00:28:09,366
to be facing outward
and not toward the center.

528
00:28:09,366 --> 00:28:11,733
The king is throwing four balls,

529
00:28:11,733 --> 00:28:14,066
and he's aiming
at four targets--

530
00:28:14,066 --> 00:28:16,933
east, west, north, and south.

531
00:28:16,933 --> 00:28:20,733
NARRATOR:
Opposite the king,
a female figure.

532
00:28:20,733 --> 00:28:22,600
AYAD:
She is complementing
his actions,

533
00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,100
asserting the royal dominion

534
00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:25,533
over the four extremities
of the Earth.

535
00:28:25,533 --> 00:28:28,866
She is drawing an arrow
through a double-arched bow,

536
00:28:28,866 --> 00:28:31,866
and this is very rare,

537
00:28:31,866 --> 00:28:33,933
to find a woman
actively arching.

538
00:28:33,933 --> 00:28:34,966
Very rare.

539
00:28:37,766 --> 00:28:40,900
Even the goddess Neith, who's
known as the goddess of war,

540
00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:44,100
and who's often called
the mistress of bow and arrows,

541
00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:46,000
she's mostly holding them
in her hand.

542
00:28:47,033 --> 00:28:49,766
As far as Egyptian iconography
is concerned,

543
00:28:49,766 --> 00:28:52,400
this is a unique representation
of female power.

544
00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:55,800
NARRATOR:
Who is this woman?

545
00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,166
Her title is god's wife of Amun.

546
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:05,266
To understand how a woman might
attain such power in Egypt,

547
00:29:05,266 --> 00:29:09,200
we need to go back 800 years,

548
00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:13,733
when the title of god's wife of
Amun first appears.

549
00:29:13,733 --> 00:29:16,433
Carved on a stone slab,
or stela,

550
00:29:16,433 --> 00:29:18,933
is the title's
earliest evidence.

551
00:29:18,933 --> 00:29:23,500
This is the Ahmose Nefertari's
donation stela.

552
00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:26,233
Ahmose Nefertari
was the wife of King Ahmose,

553
00:29:26,233 --> 00:29:27,766
the founder
of the XVIII dynasty.

554
00:29:27,766 --> 00:29:30,933
As part of his larger
state policy

555
00:29:30,933 --> 00:29:32,466
to put trusted family members

556
00:29:32,466 --> 00:29:34,100
in key positions
around the realm,

557
00:29:34,100 --> 00:29:37,933
she was appointed
as the god's wife of Amun.

558
00:29:37,933 --> 00:29:39,266
As far as we know,

559
00:29:39,266 --> 00:29:41,433
she's the first woman
to hold that title.

560
00:29:41,433 --> 00:29:44,066
NARRATOR:
With this stela,

561
00:29:44,066 --> 00:29:48,266
King Ahmose establishes
the estate of the god's wife

562
00:29:48,266 --> 00:29:51,466
as a source of revenue
for his queen.

563
00:29:51,466 --> 00:29:54,866
The stela records
large amounts of gold,

564
00:29:54,866 --> 00:29:59,666
silver, and copper,
as well as servants and land.

565
00:29:59,666 --> 00:30:02,333
AYAD:
On the donation stela
of Ahmose Nefertari,

566
00:30:02,333 --> 00:30:04,700
there is a very telling line.

567
00:30:04,700 --> 00:30:07,233
It says, "No future king
shall ever revoke

568
00:30:07,233 --> 00:30:09,433
the estate
of the god's wife of Amun."

569
00:30:11,333 --> 00:30:13,833
NARRATOR:
With this line,
Ahmose makes sure

570
00:30:13,833 --> 00:30:18,100
that this newly established
estate will last in perpetuity.

571
00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:21,100
AYAD:
The women who held that title

572
00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:24,300
remained financially
independent,

573
00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:26,233
and it seems plausible
to suggest

574
00:30:26,233 --> 00:30:28,400
that it's because
of that initial endowment.

575
00:30:32,300 --> 00:30:34,800
NARRATOR:
Although the title
of god's wife of Amun

576
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:38,966
first appears
during the New Kingdom,

577
00:30:38,966 --> 00:30:42,433
over time, the position
becomes less relevant.

578
00:30:42,433 --> 00:30:44,033
But then,

579
00:30:44,033 --> 00:30:47,700
during the Kushites' reign,
this role takes on

580
00:30:47,700 --> 00:30:50,300
a completely new
and powerful meaning.

581
00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:52,533
AYAD:
When the Nubians
invaded Egypt,

582
00:30:52,533 --> 00:30:54,766
they were quick to recognize
the political value

583
00:30:54,766 --> 00:30:56,100
of having that institution.

584
00:30:57,700 --> 00:31:01,433
The office was resurrected
after centuries of oblivion.

585
00:31:01,433 --> 00:31:04,733
So Amenirdis I becomes
the first Nubian woman

586
00:31:04,733 --> 00:31:06,200
to become a god's wife of Amun.

587
00:31:07,866 --> 00:31:09,966
NARRATOR:
The Kushite princess Amenirdis

588
00:31:09,966 --> 00:31:11,766
is the sister of Pianky,

589
00:31:11,766 --> 00:31:14,866
the first king
of the XXV dynasty.

590
00:31:14,866 --> 00:31:17,166
On becoming
the god's wife of Amun,

591
00:31:17,166 --> 00:31:20,933
Amenirdis effectively
takes control of Thebes.

592
00:31:20,933 --> 00:31:23,333
AYAD:
Her installation served

593
00:31:23,333 --> 00:31:24,933
to achieve
a smooth transition of power

594
00:31:24,933 --> 00:31:26,500
from the preceding dynasty

595
00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:28,933
to the Nubian rule in Egypt.

596
00:31:28,933 --> 00:31:32,466
♪ ♪

597
00:31:32,466 --> 00:31:34,600
Amenirdis participated
in rituals

598
00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,633
that no other woman was allowed
to participate in before.

599
00:31:39,433 --> 00:31:42,500
BUDKA:
In the XXV dynasty,
the god's wife of Amun

600
00:31:42,500 --> 00:31:46,366
was much more important
than in previous times.

601
00:31:46,366 --> 00:31:49,100
The god's wife of Amun was

602
00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:51,400
the female substitute
of the king.

603
00:31:53,233 --> 00:31:55,000
AYAD:
The god's wife of Amun

604
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,133
was as important
as a medieval pope

605
00:31:57,133 --> 00:32:01,000
in terms of the temporal and
religious power that she held.

606
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,900
NARRATOR:
In a side corridor
at the Cairo Museum,

607
00:32:04,900 --> 00:32:07,900
a statue found in Karnak Temple

608
00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:09,866
reveals how much power

609
00:32:09,866 --> 00:32:12,833
the god's wife of Amun,
Amenirdis, really had.

610
00:32:12,833 --> 00:32:17,366
It's carved from alabaster,

611
00:32:17,366 --> 00:32:20,200
a soft, translucent form
of gypsum rock.

612
00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:21,833
(sighs)

613
00:32:21,833 --> 00:32:24,400
The one and only Amenirdis I,
royal princess.

614
00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:27,800
It's not very common to find

615
00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:29,500
statues of that size
in alabaster.

616
00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:33,300
She looks exactly
like an Egyptian queen.

617
00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:36,000
The headdress,
the modius crown on her head,

618
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,433
but she has that pendant
of Amun,

619
00:32:38,433 --> 00:32:40,800
and that might be
a Nubian feature.

620
00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:44,900
On the back pillar,
she asserts her moral character.

621
00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:47,533
She gave bread to the hungry,
water to the thirsty,

622
00:32:47,533 --> 00:32:50,033
and clothes to the naked.

623
00:32:50,033 --> 00:32:51,600
Now, this is significant,

624
00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,000
because if you are giving food
to the hungry,

625
00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,633
water to the thirsty,
you have agency.

626
00:32:56,633 --> 00:32:58,700
It's not just about generosity,

627
00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:01,100
it's also about having the means
to do so

628
00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:03,300
and having
the autonomy to do so,

629
00:33:03,300 --> 00:33:05,900
and to have a woman
have that kind of inscription

630
00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:07,733
is very rare.

631
00:33:12,500 --> 00:33:14,300
NARRATOR:
Back at the site,

632
00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:15,900
the statuettes
from tomb number six

633
00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:19,033
signal a burial
of the XXV dynasty,

634
00:33:19,033 --> 00:33:23,266
the period when Amenirdis
was the god's wife of Amun.

635
00:33:23,266 --> 00:33:25,366
♪ ♪

636
00:33:25,366 --> 00:33:28,633
Now archaeologists
are on the hunt for more clues

637
00:33:28,633 --> 00:33:32,100
that might reveal
the identity of the woman

638
00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:35,500
buried in tomb number six.

639
00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:39,166
But the excavation season
is coming to an end.

640
00:33:39,166 --> 00:33:40,466
With summer approaching,

641
00:33:40,466 --> 00:33:42,233
the soaring temperatures

642
00:33:42,233 --> 00:33:45,633
would make work in the tombs
impossible.

643
00:33:45,633 --> 00:33:49,066
♪ ♪

644
00:33:49,066 --> 00:33:51,133
With only
a couple of weeks left,

645
00:33:51,133 --> 00:33:52,600
Afifi has found a vessel.

646
00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,633
ROHIM:
We found one of the
canopic jars.

647
00:33:54,633 --> 00:33:57,800
It's from fine limestone.

648
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:02,933
And even the sculpture of the
face is, is so good.

649
00:34:02,933 --> 00:34:06,733
NARRATOR: During
the mummification process,

650
00:34:06,733 --> 00:34:09,300
the organs of the deceased
would be removed

651
00:34:09,300 --> 00:34:11,066
and placed in these containers.

652
00:34:11,066 --> 00:34:14,333
They are known as canopic jars.

653
00:34:14,333 --> 00:34:16,766
ROHIM:
Each burial have
four canopic jars--

654
00:34:16,766 --> 00:34:20,266
four organs of the deceased.

655
00:34:20,266 --> 00:34:22,533
NARRATOR:
Each jar is topped with

656
00:34:22,533 --> 00:34:24,400
a different symbolic sculpture.

657
00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:28,266
The heads represent
the four sons of the god Horus.

658
00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:34,166
Each was responsible for
protecting a particular organ:

659
00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:36,666
the jackal for the stomach,

660
00:34:36,666 --> 00:34:39,033
the human head for the liver,

661
00:34:39,033 --> 00:34:41,100
the baboon for the lungs,

662
00:34:41,100 --> 00:34:44,500
and the falcon
for the intestines.

663
00:34:47,866 --> 00:34:49,833
ROHIM: It's empty.

664
00:34:49,833 --> 00:34:52,566
NARRATOR: Afifi is looking
for any inscription

665
00:34:52,566 --> 00:34:56,166
which could give us the
name of the owner of this tomb.

666
00:34:59,466 --> 00:35:03,533
Just behind the first jar,
a second one appears.

667
00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:08,933
I want to take the body
first.

668
00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:12,966
Oh!

669
00:35:12,966 --> 00:35:16,000
It's nice inscriptions.

670
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,266
Yes, yes.

671
00:35:21,500 --> 00:35:24,300
I am not specialist
in Ancient Egyptian language,

672
00:35:24,300 --> 00:35:26,433
but I can read, "Osir...

673
00:35:28,333 --> 00:35:29,966
...djer,"

674
00:35:29,966 --> 00:35:32,700
or, "djerek saa."

675
00:35:32,700 --> 00:35:36,366
Mean something related
to Osir.

676
00:35:36,366 --> 00:35:40,000
NARRATOR:
The inscription is a prayer
to the god Osiris,

677
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,266
ruler of the underworld.

678
00:35:45,366 --> 00:35:47,500
I see the base
of the lid.

679
00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:49,833
It's complete.

680
00:35:49,833 --> 00:35:52,300
No cracks-- nothing.

681
00:35:57,833 --> 00:35:59,266
It's baboon.

682
00:35:59,266 --> 00:36:01,733
(blows out)

683
00:36:01,733 --> 00:36:04,700
Now we have to consolidate
the writing.

684
00:36:06,300 --> 00:36:08,200
NARRATOR:
The jars have been
hiding in the tomb

685
00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:10,733
for nearly 3,000 years.

686
00:36:10,733 --> 00:36:12,600
Before they can be taken out,

687
00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:16,733
conservator Seham Abdelazeim

688
00:36:16,733 --> 00:36:19,100
needs to carefully protect
this ancient writing

689
00:36:19,100 --> 00:36:22,166
with a water-soluble
cellulose binder.

690
00:36:22,166 --> 00:36:25,266
The jars don't reveal
the name of the deceased,

691
00:36:25,266 --> 00:36:27,866
but Afifi believes
there are more artifacts

692
00:36:27,866 --> 00:36:30,133
waiting to be found.

693
00:36:30,133 --> 00:36:33,333
But before
he continues to excavate,

694
00:36:33,333 --> 00:36:35,133
he needs to secure the tomb.

695
00:36:35,133 --> 00:36:39,700
This layers of sediments
is, is not strong

696
00:36:39,700 --> 00:36:42,566
and it is not safe for working,

697
00:36:42,566 --> 00:36:44,600
especially when you open it

698
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:47,033
and the fresh air gets inside.

699
00:36:47,033 --> 00:36:50,966
So it's decayed, and start
to dry and fall down.

700
00:36:50,966 --> 00:36:54,366
So we need to make
all this support

701
00:36:54,366 --> 00:36:57,766
and, to continue our work.

702
00:36:57,766 --> 00:36:59,666
♪ ♪

703
00:36:59,666 --> 00:37:03,866
NARRATOR:
The excavation season
has come to an end.

704
00:37:03,866 --> 00:37:05,833
The workers prepare supports

705
00:37:05,833 --> 00:37:08,466
in an effort to secure
tomb number six.

706
00:37:08,466 --> 00:37:12,700
Once ready, Afifi locks it
with a metal gate.

707
00:37:15,166 --> 00:37:17,733
The team needs to wait
until September,

708
00:37:17,733 --> 00:37:21,266
when the excavation will resume.

709
00:37:26,033 --> 00:37:31,366
♪ ♪

710
00:37:31,366 --> 00:37:33,700
When you discover
something interesting,

711
00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:35,566
you can feel happy.

712
00:37:35,566 --> 00:37:38,500
Of course, I have to be
more patient, and...

713
00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:42,300
When we stop excavation
in the site,

714
00:37:42,300 --> 00:37:44,400
doesn't mean that the work stop.

715
00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:45,933
Because we continue working,

716
00:37:45,933 --> 00:37:48,000
in writing the general report,

717
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,366
make analysis for the object,

718
00:37:50,366 --> 00:37:52,433
and still thinking

719
00:37:52,433 --> 00:37:55,500
about the future season.

720
00:37:55,500 --> 00:38:00,766
♪ ♪

721
00:38:04,233 --> 00:38:06,066
NARRATOR:
Five months later,

722
00:38:06,066 --> 00:38:09,800
the heat has come and gone.

723
00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:14,133
The archaeologists return
to the excavation site,

724
00:38:14,133 --> 00:38:18,000
eager to pick up the work
from where they left it.

725
00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,900
♪ ♪

726
00:38:22,900 --> 00:38:28,100
As Afifi and Ahmed
reenter tomb number six,

727
00:38:28,100 --> 00:38:29,966
something does not look right.

728
00:38:29,966 --> 00:38:31,333
ROHIM (speaking Arabic):

729
00:38:31,333 --> 00:38:33,300
EL NASSEH
(speaking Arabic):

730
00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:35,733
ROHIM:

731
00:38:35,733 --> 00:38:37,900
ROHIM:
All the tomb collapsed.

732
00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:40,100
All the roof
collapsed.

733
00:38:40,100 --> 00:38:42,866
And there are cracks
everywhere inside the tomb.

734
00:38:44,366 --> 00:38:46,966
NARRATOR:
The ground above has caved in,

735
00:38:46,966 --> 00:38:52,366
filling the deep shaft that
the team spent days excavating.

736
00:38:52,366 --> 00:38:56,500
And now, it's too dangerous
to clear the debris.

737
00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:58,700
I think we lost this tomb.

738
00:38:59,900 --> 00:39:01,866
We can't remove the debris.

739
00:39:01,866 --> 00:39:04,466
We can't even just get inside
to check it,

740
00:39:04,466 --> 00:39:09,566
because the cracks in the roof
and the walls everywhere.

741
00:39:09,566 --> 00:39:12,133
It's not safe for the workers
and for my team,

742
00:39:12,133 --> 00:39:15,833
and this is our job
in archaeology.

743
00:39:15,833 --> 00:39:19,033
Nothing to do.

744
00:39:19,033 --> 00:39:21,866
Moving to the next stop.

745
00:39:21,866 --> 00:39:23,133
(speaking Arabic):

746
00:39:25,766 --> 00:39:28,000
 
NARRATOR:
With sadness, the team
has to give up

747
00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:33,000
on ever finding the woman
who was buried here.

748
00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:36,966
She will likely remain
in her tomb for eternity,

749
00:39:36,966 --> 00:39:41,100
just as she originally planned.

750
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:49,466
The Ancient Egyptians
recorded everything,

751
00:39:49,466 --> 00:39:52,100
especially on
their burial goods.

752
00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:53,766
Thousands of years later,

753
00:39:53,766 --> 00:39:55,733
the archaeologists
are on the hunt for clues

754
00:39:55,733 --> 00:39:59,966
that might reveal details
of long-lost lives.

755
00:39:59,966 --> 00:40:04,466
♪ ♪

756
00:40:04,466 --> 00:40:07,300
At the southern edge
of the Triangle,

757
00:40:07,300 --> 00:40:09,066
in tomb number nine,

758
00:40:09,066 --> 00:40:13,333
the archaeologists
haven't found any mummies.

759
00:40:13,333 --> 00:40:15,566
But sunk into the floor
of the burial chamber,

760
00:40:15,566 --> 00:40:18,033
the lids of four canopic jars
appear.

761
00:40:19,566 --> 00:40:22,066
ROHIM:
We found this set of
four canopic jars here,

762
00:40:22,066 --> 00:40:24,900
underneath the floor.

763
00:40:24,900 --> 00:40:28,933
I have to take it out.

764
00:40:28,933 --> 00:40:32,400
NARRATOR:
Afifi examines the vessel
in the hope it will reveal

765
00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:35,133
the name of the person
who was buried here.

766
00:40:35,133 --> 00:40:40,666
There is no text,
just black decoration.

767
00:40:40,666 --> 00:40:42,833
Something strange for me--

768
00:40:42,833 --> 00:40:45,866
the body is made
from alabaster,

769
00:40:45,866 --> 00:40:48,366
but the head
from limestone.

770
00:40:48,366 --> 00:40:52,066
NARRATOR:
He carefully removes
the second jar.

771
00:40:52,066 --> 00:40:54,166
Oh, it's different.

772
00:40:54,166 --> 00:40:55,533
It's made
of alabaster,

773
00:40:55,533 --> 00:40:59,800
but it has a stand
made of limestone.

774
00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:02,633
It's rare to find
canopic jar

775
00:41:02,633 --> 00:41:04,800
with a stone stand
like this.

776
00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:07,866
And I think it has
some inscriptions.

777
00:41:07,866 --> 00:41:11,266
NARRATOR: The inscription is
lightly carved,

778
00:41:11,266 --> 00:41:13,600
but since alabaster
is translucent,

779
00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:16,766
Afifi tries to read it
using a small light.

780
00:41:16,766 --> 00:41:19,600
I can read the text
now.

781
00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:23,633
"Djet medu Duamutef."

782
00:41:23,633 --> 00:41:26,033
It means "offering to

783
00:41:26,033 --> 00:41:31,166
Duamutef,"
one of four son of Horus.

784
00:41:31,166 --> 00:41:34,266
"Satirdis."

785
00:41:34,266 --> 00:41:38,800
Her name is Satirdis.

786
00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:40,933
So it's for a woman,

787
00:41:40,933 --> 00:41:44,800
and she was a female singer
in Amun house.

788
00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:47,066
NARRATOR:
Finally, the team has a name

789
00:41:47,066 --> 00:41:50,066
for the owner of the tomb:
Asetirdis,

790
00:41:50,066 --> 00:41:53,233
the singer, or chantress,
in the Temple of Amun.

791
00:41:55,466 --> 00:41:57,800
AYAD:
The god's wife had chantresses

792
00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:00,133
in her entourage.

793
00:42:00,133 --> 00:42:03,166
Chantresses were very prominent
in Theban society.

794
00:42:05,533 --> 00:42:09,100
In temple ritual,
we would see women chantresses

795
00:42:09,100 --> 00:42:13,033
making music to the gods.

796
00:42:13,033 --> 00:42:14,800
It makes a lot of sense

797
00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:17,766
that chantresses
in the House of Amun

798
00:42:17,766 --> 00:42:19,300
would be buried
just outside the temple

799
00:42:19,300 --> 00:42:22,533
at Medinet Habu,
because that was thought to be

800
00:42:22,533 --> 00:42:25,233
the place of the primeval mound.

801
00:42:25,233 --> 00:42:28,000
NARRATOR:
In Egyptian mythology,

802
00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:31,133
the primeval mound
was the first piece of land

803
00:42:31,133 --> 00:42:33,266
to emerge
from the watery chaos--

804
00:42:33,266 --> 00:42:36,700
where life was first created.

805
00:42:36,700 --> 00:42:41,633
AYAD:
The god Amun would come across
the river aged, tired.

806
00:42:41,633 --> 00:42:44,333
He comes back
to this primeval place,

807
00:42:44,333 --> 00:42:47,100
where he would commune
with eight primeval gods.

808
00:42:48,300 --> 00:42:50,966
He would go back rejuvenated
and youthful again.

809
00:42:54,233 --> 00:42:59,166
NARRATOR:
The tombs in the Triangle are
located on this sacred land.

810
00:42:59,166 --> 00:43:02,433
The people buried here
could have a close connection

811
00:43:02,433 --> 00:43:05,133
to the god Amun.

812
00:43:05,133 --> 00:43:07,000
The people who are buried here

813
00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,400
could be working
in this great institution,

814
00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:12,633
the office of the god's wife
of Amun.

815
00:43:12,633 --> 00:43:17,633
♪ ♪

816
00:43:17,633 --> 00:43:20,733
NARRATOR:
And in the heart
of this holy place,

817
00:43:20,733 --> 00:43:22,966
the god's wife, Amenirdis,

818
00:43:22,966 --> 00:43:26,233
has her own funerary chapel.

819
00:43:26,233 --> 00:43:28,900
AYAD:
We are at the great temple
of Medinet Habu,

820
00:43:28,900 --> 00:43:31,033
and everyone knows it

821
00:43:31,033 --> 00:43:32,300
for the funerary temple
of Ramesses III,

822
00:43:32,300 --> 00:43:34,466
and they walk just straight past

823
00:43:34,466 --> 00:43:38,333
this wonderful chapel
of Amenirdis.

824
00:43:38,333 --> 00:43:41,133
Even though the façade itself
has wonderful inscriptions,

825
00:43:41,133 --> 00:43:42,933
no one ever stops
to look at them.

826
00:43:42,933 --> 00:43:46,333
Here we have
Amenirdis offering Maat,

827
00:43:46,333 --> 00:43:50,100
which is the concept of truth
and harmony and global order,

828
00:43:50,100 --> 00:43:53,000
to Amun and
his divine consort, Mut.

829
00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:56,133
This representation
is unique for a woman.

830
00:43:56,133 --> 00:43:58,466
It's unique because it's the
prerogative of the king only,

831
00:43:58,466 --> 00:44:02,066
who is seen as
the ultimate preserver of Maat.

832
00:44:02,066 --> 00:44:05,433
And we don't see that any time
before that period.

833
00:44:06,566 --> 00:44:10,000
NARRATOR:
In the XXV dynasty,
the god's wife of Amun

834
00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:12,866
has a much more
active and visible role

835
00:44:12,866 --> 00:44:15,000
than ever before.

836
00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:17,433
Only the king can build
on sacred land,

837
00:44:17,433 --> 00:44:19,033
so the fact that Amenirdis

838
00:44:19,033 --> 00:44:23,500
has a large stone monument here
is meaningful.

839
00:44:23,500 --> 00:44:25,433
AYAD:
Construction
of funerary chapels,

840
00:44:25,433 --> 00:44:26,833
any kind of temple,

841
00:44:26,833 --> 00:44:29,300
is the royal prerogative,
and only the king could do that,

842
00:44:29,300 --> 00:44:31,433
but repeatedly,
we see the god's wife

843
00:44:31,433 --> 00:44:33,833
erect chapels on their own.

844
00:44:33,833 --> 00:44:36,233
To anyone, even those
who could not read,

845
00:44:36,233 --> 00:44:39,233
the iconography itself
told any bystander

846
00:44:39,233 --> 00:44:43,733
that these women were
as important as the king.

847
00:44:43,733 --> 00:44:47,100
NARRATOR:
And historians believe
that this level of prestige

848
00:44:47,100 --> 00:44:48,700
for women was only attained

849
00:44:48,700 --> 00:44:52,166
when the Kushites from Nubia
ruled Egypt.

850
00:44:52,166 --> 00:44:53,800
BUDKA:
I believe we have

851
00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:55,700
a certain difference

852
00:44:55,700 --> 00:44:59,666
in the importance of women
during the XXV dynasty,

853
00:44:59,666 --> 00:45:03,300
because they were just importing

854
00:45:03,300 --> 00:45:07,400
their role from Kush to Egypt.

855
00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:09,100
The role of women

856
00:45:09,100 --> 00:45:12,366
was different
in the Kushite culture.

857
00:45:12,366 --> 00:45:15,400
The royal women had much power,

858
00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:18,000
and part of this was imported
to Egypt.

859
00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,400
I don't think it's a coincidence

860
00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:22,566
that this office
of the god's wife

861
00:45:22,566 --> 00:45:25,633
really flourished
under foreign rule.

862
00:45:33,200 --> 00:45:36,233
NARRATOR:
Since excavation began
in the Triangle,

863
00:45:36,233 --> 00:45:38,766
the team has uncovered
several tombs.

864
00:45:40,366 --> 00:45:43,033
One has an impressive
wide staircase.

865
00:45:44,300 --> 00:45:46,633
With a large quantity
of debris removed,

866
00:45:46,633 --> 00:45:51,666
the archaeologists can now
access the burial chamber.

867
00:45:51,666 --> 00:45:53,700
We remove all the debris
from the room itself

868
00:45:53,700 --> 00:45:56,800
until we found
a group of coffins.

869
00:45:56,800 --> 00:45:59,066
NARRATOR:
The human remains

870
00:45:59,066 --> 00:46:02,400
are in a very bad state
of preservation,

871
00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:03,900
the mummy wrappings
and wooden coffins

872
00:46:03,900 --> 00:46:06,033
completely decayed.

873
00:46:06,033 --> 00:46:10,000
Only the bones of
these individuals survive.

874
00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:12,133
EL NASSEH:
Maybe it's a family tomb,

875
00:46:12,133 --> 00:46:15,133
and now we are working
to find some object

876
00:46:15,133 --> 00:46:17,533
dating this tomb,

877
00:46:17,533 --> 00:46:19,466
like canopic jars
with the titles

878
00:46:19,466 --> 00:46:20,566
and the name of the owner.

879
00:46:23,033 --> 00:46:25,366
NARRATOR:
Skilled excavator Badawi

880
00:46:25,366 --> 00:46:28,566
carefully works
around one of the coffins.

881
00:46:28,566 --> 00:46:32,700
Soon, the top of
a canopic jar appears.

882
00:46:34,500 --> 00:46:37,366
HAWASS:
The canopic jars have
some inscriptions.

883
00:46:37,366 --> 00:46:39,466
It needs to be clear more.

884
00:46:39,466 --> 00:46:43,800
We still have to look
for the other three.

885
00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:44,900
(speaking Arabic):

886
00:46:46,300 --> 00:46:48,333
♪ ♪

887
00:46:48,333 --> 00:46:51,133
NARRATOR:
A second jar.

888
00:46:51,133 --> 00:46:53,333
♪ ♪

889
00:46:57,333 --> 00:46:59,333
And soon a third.

890
00:46:59,333 --> 00:47:01,900
HAWASS:
Beautiful!

891
00:47:01,900 --> 00:47:06,166
This person has to be elite,
an important person.

892
00:47:06,166 --> 00:47:10,433
It's really
well done, modeled.

893
00:47:10,433 --> 00:47:12,900
The workshop that made
this canopic jars

894
00:47:12,900 --> 00:47:16,300
are really perfect.

895
00:47:16,300 --> 00:47:17,466
NARRATOR:
And finally,

896
00:47:17,466 --> 00:47:19,200
on the fourth and last jar,

897
00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:22,700
the name of the owner
can be read.

898
00:47:22,700 --> 00:47:25,366
This is the name of him.
ROHIM:
His name is Mere.

899
00:47:25,366 --> 00:47:28,866
The name Mere Ren-Amun,

900
00:47:28,866 --> 00:47:31,300
the singer of the god Amun.

901
00:47:31,300 --> 00:47:34,666
This is really wonderful.

902
00:47:34,666 --> 00:47:36,733
This person was part
of this important office.

903
00:47:36,733 --> 00:47:40,400
Those people,
one day, were working,

904
00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:43,033
singing, dancing

905
00:47:43,033 --> 00:47:48,166
behind the great
god's wife of Amun.

906
00:47:48,166 --> 00:47:50,600
NARRATOR: But the style
of the canopic jars

907
00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:53,033
is different from the others
found in the Triangle.

908
00:47:53,033 --> 00:47:54,766
HAWASS:
As an archaeologist,

909
00:47:54,766 --> 00:47:58,866
you can look at canopic jars
and know the period exactly.

910
00:47:58,866 --> 00:48:03,166
The modeling of the faces
show 500 BC,

911
00:48:03,166 --> 00:48:06,400
the XXVI dynasty.

912
00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:07,733
Through the archaeological
evidence,

913
00:48:07,733 --> 00:48:11,266
you can say
that the big large cemetery,

914
00:48:11,266 --> 00:48:13,200
it started in the north,

915
00:48:13,200 --> 00:48:15,933
in dynasty XXV,

916
00:48:15,933 --> 00:48:19,700
continued
to the edge of the city,

917
00:48:19,700 --> 00:48:21,833
known as the golden lost city.

918
00:48:21,833 --> 00:48:25,500
The tombs here
dated to dynasty XXVI.

919
00:48:25,500 --> 00:48:27,733
NARRATOR:
When Mere was alive,

920
00:48:27,733 --> 00:48:31,866
the Kushites of Nubia
were no longer ruling Egypt,

921
00:48:31,866 --> 00:48:36,600
yet he is buried next to
the people of the XXV dynasty.

922
00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:37,966
AYAD:
For the Theban elites,

923
00:48:37,966 --> 00:48:39,933
this was a good burial ground.

924
00:48:39,933 --> 00:48:42,000
It mattered very little

925
00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:44,633
who the ruling king was
and from which dynasty.

926
00:48:46,366 --> 00:48:49,333
Between the XXV dynasty
and the XXVI dynasty in Thebes,

927
00:48:49,333 --> 00:48:51,133
there is no material break.

928
00:48:51,133 --> 00:48:55,033
It's a continuous move from
the one dynasty to the other.

929
00:48:56,766 --> 00:49:00,866
AYAD:
The Theban people
are Theban people,

930
00:49:00,866 --> 00:49:02,933
so there are generations
of the same families

931
00:49:02,933 --> 00:49:04,666
living under different kings.

932
00:49:07,966 --> 00:49:10,266
NARRATOR:
The reign of the XXV dynasty

933
00:49:10,266 --> 00:49:13,533
ends around 653 BCE.

934
00:49:13,533 --> 00:49:16,033
The new royal family

935
00:49:16,033 --> 00:49:18,833
that establishes
the XXVI dynasty

936
00:49:18,833 --> 00:49:22,633
comes from the north of Egypt,
from a city called Sais.

937
00:49:22,633 --> 00:49:27,333
But a new king doesn't mean
that everything changes.

938
00:49:27,333 --> 00:49:30,533
AYAD:
The transition from the XXV
to the XXVI dynasty

939
00:49:30,533 --> 00:49:31,866
is very interesting.

940
00:49:31,866 --> 00:49:34,133
We have someone like Montuemhat,

941
00:49:34,133 --> 00:49:36,000
who was really
a man for all seasons.

942
00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:37,766
He was already
the mayor of Thebes

943
00:49:37,766 --> 00:49:39,166
under the Nubian rulers,

944
00:49:39,166 --> 00:49:41,166
he continued to be
the mayor of Thebes

945
00:49:41,166 --> 00:49:42,933
under the new rulers,

946
00:49:42,933 --> 00:49:44,466
and all the while, he took part

947
00:49:44,466 --> 00:49:47,066
in the transition in the office
of the god's wife,

948
00:49:47,066 --> 00:49:51,233
helping establish
the new god's wife in place.

949
00:49:53,000 --> 00:49:54,966
NARRATOR:
A new pharaoh.

950
00:49:54,966 --> 00:49:56,600
A new god's wife of Amun.

951
00:49:58,033 --> 00:50:00,633
And the people associated
with this office

952
00:50:00,633 --> 00:50:05,733
keep Medinet Habu
as their chosen burial ground.

953
00:50:05,733 --> 00:50:07,600
BUDKA:
The title god's wife of Amun

954
00:50:07,600 --> 00:50:10,833
lasts until the end
of the XXVI dynasty.

955
00:50:10,833 --> 00:50:13,666
AYAD:
At the end of that time,

956
00:50:13,666 --> 00:50:15,600
Egypt is invaded
by the Persians.

957
00:50:18,033 --> 00:50:20,500
And everything changes.

958
00:50:20,500 --> 00:50:22,633
NARRATOR:
After the Persian invasion,

959
00:50:22,633 --> 00:50:25,466
evidence of the
god's wife of Amun disappears.

960
00:50:27,433 --> 00:50:30,166
Lasting for more
than a millennium,

961
00:50:30,166 --> 00:50:32,233
the title of god's wife of Amun

962
00:50:32,233 --> 00:50:34,300
was created
in the XVIII dynasty.

963
00:50:35,866 --> 00:50:39,600
But it's 800 years later,
in the XXV dynasty,

964
00:50:39,600 --> 00:50:42,966
with the help of the
Kushite pharaohs from Nubia,

965
00:50:42,966 --> 00:50:46,200
that the institution
reaches its zenith,

966
00:50:46,200 --> 00:50:49,966
Amenirdis's legacy forever
imprinted on the artifacts

967
00:50:49,966 --> 00:50:55,100
and monuments she left behind.

968
00:50:58,500 --> 00:51:02,600
The archaeologists have
unearthed buried treasures

969
00:51:02,600 --> 00:51:05,000
of a very special period
of Egyptian history,

970
00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:09,833
when the Kushite pharaohs of
the XXV dynasty rose to power

971
00:51:09,833 --> 00:51:13,366
and wrote a new chapter
into this rich civilization.

972
00:51:13,366 --> 00:51:16,466
They embraced Egyptian culture
and beliefs,

973
00:51:16,466 --> 00:51:20,066
but also brought elements
of their own culture,

974
00:51:20,066 --> 00:51:22,633
where women were
financially independent

975
00:51:22,633 --> 00:51:25,500
and the power
of the god's wife of Amun

976
00:51:25,500 --> 00:51:27,266
rivaled that of the king.

977
00:51:27,266 --> 00:51:28,733
AYAD:
The god's wife of Amun

978
00:51:28,733 --> 00:51:32,066
is very inspiring and empowering
to modern women today.

979
00:51:33,633 --> 00:51:36,766
The fact that they're not
as well known to the public

980
00:51:36,766 --> 00:51:38,533
as Cleopatra or Nefertiti

981
00:51:38,533 --> 00:51:43,000
is just the sad reality
of modern pop culture.

982
00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:45,866
♪ ♪

983
00:51:45,866 --> 00:51:47,466
HAWASS:
A unique cemetery

984
00:51:47,466 --> 00:51:50,433
to bring more information
about this period.

985
00:51:50,433 --> 00:51:51,700
Oh!

986
00:51:51,700 --> 00:51:53,266
We are making history.

987
00:51:55,300 --> 00:51:57,366
NARRATOR:
Like the shifting sands
of the desert,

988
00:51:57,366 --> 00:52:00,233
history is never static.

989
00:52:00,233 --> 00:52:03,933
It is a quest for understanding
who we are,

990
00:52:03,933 --> 00:52:06,133
where we've been,
and where we're going.

991
00:52:06,133 --> 00:52:08,833
AYAD:
People looking at us
from even 200 years from now,

992
00:52:08,833 --> 00:52:11,633
or 2,000 years from now,

993
00:52:11,633 --> 00:52:13,266
how they perceive women today

994
00:52:13,266 --> 00:52:16,966
is dependent on how much
evidence do we leave behind.

995
00:52:16,966 --> 00:52:19,466
♪ ♪

996
00:52:41,166 --> 00:52:44,033
♪ ♪

997
00:52:44,966 --> 00:52:52,500
♪ ♪

998
00:52:56,333 --> 00:53:03,933
♪ ♪

999
00:53:07,766 --> 00:53:15,300
♪ ♪

1000
00:53:16,933 --> 00:53:24,466
♪ ♪

1001
00:53:26,100 --> 00:53:33,633
♪ ♪