Photo taken on April 13, 2019 shows the paintings in a tomb in Saqqara, Egypt. Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities opened on Saturday a tomb of a Fifth Dynasty dignitary which was discovered recently at Saqqara Necropolis near the Giza pyramids. Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany, along with 52 ambassadors and cultural attaches of foreign, Arab and African countries, toured Saqqara Necropolis to inspect the tomb of Khuwy, who lived at the end of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The Old Kingdom of Egypt is the period spanning 2686 BC to 2181 BC, which is also known as the Age of the Pyramids. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
CAIRO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities opened on Saturday a tomb of a Fifth Dynasty dignitary which was discovered recently at Saqqara Necropolis near the Giza pyramids.
Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany, along with 52 ambassadors and cultural attaches of foreign, Arab and African countries, toured Saqqara Necropolis to inspect the tomb of Khuwy, who lived at the end of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom.
The Old Kingdom of Egypt is the period spanning 2686 BC to 2181 BC, which is also known as the Age of the Pyramids.
The tomb was found by Egyptian archaeologists during an excavation and documentation survey in Saqqara.
The burial place consists of a superstructure with an L-shaped offering chamber, which was once decorated with reliefs.
Only the bottom part of this decoration is preserved because of re-use of its white limestone blocks in later times in antiquity.
In the north wall of the tomb, the mission found the entrance to a unique substructure, which is for the first time clearly inspired by the design of the substructures of the royal pyramids of the Fifth Dynasty, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Xinhua.
The discovery of this tomb highlights the importance of King Djedkare's era and the end of the Fifth Dynasty in general, he said.
Meanwhile, al-Anany said his ministry will announce two new discoveries in Luxor on April 18 to mark the World Heritage Day.
The ministry will also announce the competition of restoration of the colossus of Ramses II on display at the first pylon of Luxor temple, he added.
"The ministry will open all museums and archaeological sites in Egypt for free for Egyptians as well as Africans, Arabs and foreigners who are living in Egypt in celebration of the World Heritage Day," al-Anany revealed.
Egypt, one of the world's oldest civilizations, has been working hard to preserve its archaeological heritage and discover the secrets of its ancient artifacts.
Over the past few years, the country has witnessed several big archaeological discoveries including pharaonic tombs, statues, coffins, mummies, burial sites and funerary gardens.
