Saqqara Reveals 32 Painted Mummies and Bizarre Rituals from Late Period–Ptolemaic Egypt

Egyptian archaeologists have unveiled 32 exceptionally preserved mummies from Saqqara’s vast necropolis, accompanied by vibrantly painted wooden coffins and a cache of enigmatic ritual objects that shed new light on previously unknown funerary practices during the Late Period and Ptolemaic era (c. 664–30 BCE).

Announced in early 2026 by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the discovery came from three deep burial shafts near the Pyramid of Unas. The mummies—belonging to priests, officials, and elite families—were found intact inside brightly decorated coffins covered in intricate scenes of the afterlife, gods, and protective spells. Many coffins feature rare gilded masks and inlaid eyes, while the mummies themselves retain linen wrappings, amulets, and cartonnage elements.

Among the standout artifacts are unusual ritual tools and caches: miniature bronze figurines in strange poses, ceramic vessels containing resins and natron mixtures with unknown additives, and papyrus fragments describing hybrid rituals blending traditional Egyptian and early Greek influences. One cache included a set of ivory instruments and a model boat with human figurines arranged in a circular “dance of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ” configuration never before documented.

“These finds reveal rituals far more complex and syncretic than we expected,” said Mostafa Waziri, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. “The painted coffins and ᴀssociated objects suggest elaborate multi-stage ceremonies involving symbolic rebirth, community participation, and perhaps even theatrical elements tied to the cult of Osiris and Serapis.”

The discovery underscores Saqqara’s role as a major Late Period–Ptolemaic burial center and highlights cultural fusion under Greek rule. The 32 mummies and their grave goods are slated for display at the Grand Egyptian Museum, promising to transform our understanding of how ancient Egyptians navigated death and the afterlife during a transformative era.