New Egyptian queen's tomb

[Duncan Head]

Czech archaeologists have unearthed the tomb of a previously unknown queen believed to have been the wife of Pharaoh Neferefre who ruled 4,500 years ago, officials in Egypt said Sunday. The tomb was discovered in Abu Sir, an Old Kingdom necropolis southwest of Cairo where there are several pyramids dedicated to pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty, including Neferefre.

The name of his wife had not been known before the find, Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty said in a statement. He identified her as Khentakawess, saying that for the "first time we have discovered the name of this queen who had been unknown before the discovery of her tomb".

More at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/05/tomb-mystery-egyptian-queen-discovered-by-archaeologists

[Patrick Waterson]

Damaty needs to brush up on his basic Egyptology.

"This discovery will help us shed light on certain unknown aspects of the Fifth Dynasty, which along with the Fourth Dynasty, witnessed the construction of the first pyramids," he added.

Sneferu and Imhotep would turn in their graves.

[Andreas Johansson]

Sneferu and Imhotep would turn in their graves.

Given Imhotep's cinematic career, I think we should be grateful if that's all he does.

[Duncan Head]

Damaty needs to brush up on his basic Egyptology.

"This discovery will help us shed light on certain unknown aspects of the Fifth Dynasty, which along with the Fourth Dynasty, witnessed the construction of the first pyramids," he added.

Sneferu and Imhotep would turn in their graves.

I thought Sneferu was Fourth Dynasty, so covered by Damatu's statement?

But Imhotep, yes; or maybe D thinks that bent pyramids don't count!

[Patrick Waterson]

When I was younger, Sneferu was definitely 3rd Dynasty (see pp.115-116 and 597 of JH Breasted's History of Egypt).  More recently, he was promoted to 4th, or the boundaries of the 4th Dynasty changed to accommodate him.  Imhotep and his patron pharaoh Djoser remain 3rd Dynasty at present, although for how long remains to be seen.

But Imhotep, yes; or maybe D thinks that bent pyramids don't count!

And that the Step Pyramid is not a proper pyramid.