The so-called Osiris Mine remains one of the most inaccessible Egyptian sites due to the presence of groundwater of unknown source. Few people have had the opportunity to visit this place, and it has therefore not received the attention it deserves.

Ancient Egypt has attracted people from all over the world for many centuries. Seekers of mysterious artifacts, wise knowledge of distant ancestors, fabulous treasures—all yearned for the land of the pyramids, hoping to find not only what they wanted, but also something more.

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato also contributed to the popularization of Egypt. In his writings, he evoked the connection between the mysterious priests of the pharaohs and the mythological civilization of Atlantis.

Whether this story is true or a figment of the great thinker’s imagination, after visiting Egypt for the first time, you will understand that he had every reason to ᴀssociate the cultural and architectural achievements of the Black Country (as Egypt was called in ancient times) with another, much more developed civilization.

Today, we would like to talk about a lesser-known place in Egypt. This place, discovered and excavated not so long ago, but absolutely astonishing and magnificent – ​​the Well of Osiris.

According to one legend, this is where the ancient Egyptian god Osiris found his final refuge. It is located near Cairo, on the Giza Plateau, next to the Pyramid of Khafre.

The Pit of Osiris is underground, and if you don’t know its exact location, you can walk past a discreet, closed door in the rocky base of the plateau dozens of times without noticing anything unusual.

The site was first marked on a map of Giza in 1837 by British Egyptologist and engineer John Perring and designated as Tomb No. 1 in 1933-34.

The Egyptian archaeologist Selim Hasan, while clearing the processional route between the Pyramid of Khafre and the Valley Temple near the Sphinx, discovered a shaft beneath the route itself. The Pit of Osiris had several levels. Initially, the lowest level was filled with water, which was an obstacle to further research.

It was only in 1999, under the direction of Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Zahi Hawas, that it was possible to pump water from the lowest level of the well. Since then, archaeological excavations have continued unabated.

Accessing the excavation site was extremely difficult, even for an official archaeological mission, since the work was carried out under the personal supervision of Havas. Ordinary tourists could only dream of visiting the well. And there is plenty to dream about here.

It is also interesting to note that amulets of various shapes made of obsidian, diorite, slate, faience, and basalt have been found at the site. The name “Well of Osiris” is due to the design of the tomb and the amulets depicting Osiris found at the lowest level.

The descent into the Well of Osiris takes place in three stages. In the first stage, from the entrance gate, you must descend more than 10 meters along a vertical ladder. On a small platform, another staircase leads down. This descent ends in a rectangular room with seven niches, two of which contain high-quality basalt sarcophagi.

It’s hard to imagine how these mᴀssive stone structures ended up at such a depth, considering their size! Upon discovering this unusual fact, it was worth coming here. But that’s not all.

A significant trace of iron oxide of unknown origin was visible in the northwest niche, under the ceiling. Similar traces are found in other fissures on the Giza Plateau.

However, the most interesting part awaits us after the third descent, 12 meters deep, on the third and final level of the Osiris Well. Here, on an artificial island surrounded by water, lies another sarcophagus, very similar to its neighbors above, but made of granite.

Right on the island, you can see the remains of rectangular columns that once overlooked a stone sarcophagus.

It’s still unclear why stone sarcophagi were used in antiquity. But if it was truly a burial place, then the Egyptian god truly deserved such a tomb.

It’s here, in the dim light, standing silently near the water table, surrounding the island with the oblivion of a bygone era of ancient gods and heroes, that you suddenly begin to truly appreciate the grandeur of Egypt’s colossal monuments.

You can even grasp the movement of the spirit of history, which is invisibly present somewhere nearby, existing at all times.

And after such spectacles, how can one not believe that the gods really lived among men?