Buried deities

Buried deities

Credit: Copyright J.-Fr. Gout/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Egyptian priests buried a sacred statue of Ptah, the god of craftsmen and sculptors. During its "lifetime," Ptah's statue was likely well cared for, with priests washing it, perfuming it, dressing it and feeding it. But over the years, the Ptah statue accumulated damage, prompting the priests to give it a respectful burial.

The priests also buried a number of other sacred statues that had deteriorated over time. This burial is known as a favissa — a grave, of sorts, for sacred objects that were no longer in use.

The favissa also had 14 statues and figurines of the god Osiris, the god of fertility, the dead and of rebirth. It's possible that by placing Osiris with Ptah, the priests were preparing Ptah for rebirth, the researchers said. [Read the full story on the Egyptian burial here]

Treasure map

Treasure map

Credit: Copyright Antiquity

Archaeologists found the favissa at the Karnak temple complex in 2014.

Temple territory

Temple territory

Credit: Copyright G. Charloux, K. Guadagnini/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

The location of the Temple of Ptah, where the ancient statue was likely located before its burial.

Ptah's temple

Ptah's temple

Credit: Copyright M. Abady Mahmoud, G. Charloux, K. Guadagnini, P. Zignani et al./ CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

he parts of the Ptah temple that were excavated in 2015.

Bird's-eye view

Bird's-eye view

Credit: Copyright J.-Fr. Gout/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

A bird's-eye view of the temple of Ptah in Karnak.

The favissa

The favissa

Credit: Copyright G. Charloux, K. Guadagnini/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

The favissa was located at the back of the temple of Ptah.

[Read the full story on the Egyptian burial here]

3D illustration

3D illustration

Credit: Copyright G. Charloux, K. Guadagnini/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

Researchers spent about a month excavating the favissa, carefully noting where they found each artifact. Here, you can see a drawing, the 3D model of the pit and the exact location of its contents.

Osiris statuette

Osiris statuette

Credit: Copyright J. Maucor/ CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

Researchers carefully conserve an Osiris statuette found within the favissa. It's possible the statue of the god Ptah was placed with the Osiris statuettes because Osiris was the god of rebirth.

Treasure trove

Treasure trove

Credit: Copyright J. Maucor/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

The favissa contained 38 objects, including (starting in the top left and going clockwise) a male head made of gilded limestone, the lower part of the limestone statue of the god Ptah, a statuette of Osiris and a limestone sphinx.

Egyptian excavation

Egyptian excavation

Credit: Copyright M. Abady Mahmoud/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

An archaeologist excavates a wooden statuette of Osiris from the favissa.

3D cross section

3D cross section

Credit: Copyright K. Guadagnini/CFEETKCNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

A digital 3D cross section showing the artifacts within the favissa. Notice how the statue of Ptah was at the bottom with the other artifacts, the sphinx was on the second layer and the gilded head was placed at the top.

Mut statuette

Mut statuette

Credit: Copyright J. Maucor/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

The favissa also held two statuettes of Mut, the mother goddess of Thebes. This statuette had hieroglyphic inscriptions on it.

[Read the full story on the Egyptian burial here]