Royal Tomb Raid? Figurines Hint Pharaoh Shoshenq III Seized Predecessor's Burial Site

2 hours ago7 min read1 comments

A stunning discovery within a royal tomb at the Tanis necropolis is forcing Egyptologists to reconsider a potential act of ancient royal appropriation. The tomb, long ascribed to Pharaoh Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty, has yielded a crucial clue: a cache of hundreds of funeral figurines, known as shabtis, whose stylistic and inscribed features point directly to his successor, Shoshenq III.This evidence suggests Shoshenq III may have hijacked his predecessor's final resting place for his own use. While the outer chambers prominently display the cartouche of Osorkon II, the presence of these specific shabtis—essentially the personal servants for the afterlife of Shoshenq III—paints a compelling picture of tomb reuse.Experts posit that political instability, economic strain, or time constraints may have driven the later pharaoh to commandeer an already constructed and consecrated tomb, a pragmatic but sacrilegious shortcut to eternity. Such acts, while shocking, were not unheard of in periods of dynastic decline or financial hardship.The Tanis burial ground, though opulent, was more susceptible to such practices than the secluded Valley of the Kings. This finding challenges the perception of unchallenged pharaonic power, revealing the complex and often desperate realities of maintaining royal legacy. Further analysis of sarcophagus fragments and any remaining organic material could provide definitive proof, potentially revealing two royal occupants in a tomb built for one.

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#archaeology

#ancient Egypt

#tomb discovery

#funeral figurines

#Osorkon II

#pharaohs

#Tanis