“Only because of you.” He turned to Dirk and Summer. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving my life. And those of my workers.”
Dirk shook his head. “We didn’t save the antiquities agent’s life, I’m afraid.”
“A tragedy these thieves are still at work. It’s the second time I’ve been hit by a tomb robber. You remember, Riki, we got nicked for a child’s sarcophagus near Thebes a few years ago.”
“I remember,” she said. “At least no one got hurt there.”
“Occupational hazard in these parts, I suppose.”
“When do they cut you loose?” Summer asked.
“Another day or two. I’m chafing to get back to Amarna and have a look at that tomb with some proper lighting. It’s quite a marvelous discovery. I guess we have the thieves to thank for that.”
“You would have found it eventually,” Riki said. “You knew the offering table was a likely indicator of something more.”
“I did at that. I just wish I could remember what we saw inside.”
“I can help you there.” Zeibig pulled out his phone and showed Stanley his photos of the tomb. “Both before and after images. I’ll be sure and send these to you.”
Stanley admired the photos of the coffin, then focused on the mural, trying to interpret the image. Similar to those in other Egyptian tombs, it combined hieroglyphic panels and larger illustrations, segmented into three sections.
The left side featured several people kneeling, their arms raised in apparent worship to the sun. Behind them was a small sarcophagus. The center panel showed a man and woman at the top, seated on thrones and wearing tall hats. The rays from the sun shone only on them. The right panel displayed a narrow band of blue with small groupings of figures on either side. The illustrations were split by two vertical blocks of hieroglyphics.
Stanley smiled. “A bit dark in there, but some wonderful images nevertheless. Note the bright colors. Nearly as impressive as the murals in the tomb of Nefertari.”
“Can you tell us what it represents?” Summer asked.
“I can with a few of the elements. The image on the left is an homage to Aten, similar to inscriptions uncovered elsewhere in Amarna.” He sat up straighter. “As you may know, when the Pharaoh Akhenaten came to power, he built the city of Amarna from scratch. Part of his incentive came from his decision to abolish the polytheistic worship system that all previous dynasties had supported. He later became known as the Heretic Pharaoh for brushing away the many gods and establishing a monotheistic religion based on worship of the Aten, or sun disk.”
Stanley took a sip of water. “Unfortunately for the Pharaoh, his son Tutankhamun would reverse things after his death. Akhenaten’s entire reign was purged from the Egyptians’ historical records. But for a few years, Akhenaten led a simpler devotion in a capital city of his own making. His power is represented by the seated image of the pharaoh and his wife, Nefertiti, at the mural’s top center.”
“Are the figures in the left mourning the loss of their child?” Summer asked.
“I believe the parents of the deceased are asking Akhenaten and Nefertiti for solace from the Aten. Notice the sun’s rays are striking only the seated couple.” He held up the photo to the others. “That indicates it’s the Pharaoh and his wife, as they were the only ones who could communicate directly with the Aten. Let me see if I can make out anything with the hieroglyphics.”
He enlarged the photo and focused on the left block of symbols.
“It says ‘The parents of the King’s nephew mourn the loss of their son to the Great Illness. They ask for the Aten to stem further suffering.’”
“Pharaoh Akhenaten’s sister was mentioned on the offering table,” Riki said.
“Yes, that’s right. It would seem our assumption has proven correct about the tomb being for Akhenaten’s nephew. Our excavation is adjacent to the North Riverside Palace and likely the family’s residence. Although a member of the royal family, the Pharaoh’s sister apparently didn’t have the clout to have a tomb with the other royals in the cliffs east of Amarna. Nevertheless, the tomb’s layout is still elaborate. It would no doubt be intended as a family tomb and was pressed into service early when the boy died.”
“The cause of death seems to relate to the third panel,” Zeibig said. “At least in the upper section, where it appears there are dead people along the river.”
Stanley browsed the next photos, enlarging one of the mural’s right portion.
“I see what you mean. It appears to show several figures holding limp children.” He looked up from the phone. “There is historical evidence of a widespread plague striking during Akhenaten’s rule. Perhaps that felled our tomb’s resident.”
Zeibig pointed to the lower corner. “This portion, here, was the section shot up by the thieves.”
Stanley enlarged the photo. “We have a woman in fine attire standing in a boat. She’s waving or passing something to a man on the opposite shore. I’m not sure what that signifies.”
“Any light shed by the hieroglyphics?” Summer asked.
Stanley studied the second panel of symbols. “‘The royal daughter imparting the Apium of Faras prior to fleeing Egypt.’”
“Why would a royal daughter be fleeing Egypt?” Zeibig asked.