Lost tomb of Ancient Egypt ‘sorcerer’ who healed sick royals found in City of the Dead – but it hints at tragic secret
THE lost tomb of an ancient Egyptian royal doctor that dabbled in “magic” has been uncovered.
Teti Neb Fu’s burial place was found in the southern part of Saqqara, a vast burial ground often described as a “city of the dead”.
His stunning tomb is believed to have been built around 4,000 years ago – and its luxurious design shows how important the doctor was in life.
Teti Neb Fu (or Tetinebefou) is believed to have been a doctor to the royal family, serving during the reign of King Pepi II.
It’s a “mastaba” tomb, which is a type of flat-roofed structure often used to mark the burials of important ancient Egyptians.
The tomb was discovered as part of a joint French-Swiss archaeological mission.
Teti Nebu Fu is described as a doctor and “magician”.
In ancient Egypt, magicians were seen as a kind of sorcerer, using staffs and wands as well as magical phrases and writings.
It’s believed that Teti Neb Fu was a “magician” of the Egyptian goddess Serket.
This was the goddess of healing venomous stings and bites – suggesting that Teti Neb Fu was skilled at that kind of treatment.
He’s also named as the “chief dentist and director of medicinal plants” on his sarcophagus.
This skill may explain why he was given such a high position, as well as a beautifully decorated tomb.
“The tomb is adorned with stunning carvings and vibrant artwork,” said Egypt‘s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
“Including a beautifully painted false door and scenes of funerary offerings.”
Sadly, archaeologists discovered a tragic secret: there was “evidence of ancient looting”.
This means there may have been treasures inside the tomb that have long since vanished.
A brief history of Ancient Egypt
Here's everything you need to know...
- The Ancient Egyptians were an advanced civilisation who at one point ruled over a huge portion of the globe
- The civilisation was founded about 5,000 years ago when ancient people set up villages along the River Nile
- It lasted for about 3,000 years and saw the building of complex cities centuries ahead of their time – as well as the famous Great Pyramids
- The Ancient Egyptians were experts at farming and construction
- They invented a solar calendar, and one of the world’s earliest writing systems: The hieroglyph
- The Egyptians were ruled by kings and queens called pharaohs
- Religion and the afterlife were a huge part of Ancient Egyptian culture. They had over 2,000 gods
- Pharaohs built huge elaborate tombs to be buried in, some of which were pyramids – at the time among the largest structures in the world
- The Egyptians believed in life after death, and important people’s corpses were mummified to preserve their bodies for the afterlife
- The Ancient Egyptian empire fell in 30BC due to a mix of factors, including wars with other empires and a 100-year period of drought and starvation
But thankfully most of the tomb is well-preserved.
“The tomb’s walls remain intact, offering a rare glimpse into daily life and cultural practices during the Old Kingdom,” the Egyptian ministry explained.
“The team also discovered a stone sarcophagus with inscriptions bearing the physician’s name and titles.”
The ministry added: “This incredible find adds to Saqqara’s rich legacy as one of Egypt’s most significant archaeological sites.”
Pepi II Neferkare was a pharaoh in Egypt’s Old Kingdom.
He’s believed to have ascended to the throne aged six, reining from around 2278 BC.
His reign has been linked to a declining of the Old Kingdom, and he died at some time around 2216BC or 2184BC.
Nefekare, his second name, means “Beautiful is the Ka of Re”.
What is the curse of the pharaohs?
The curse of the pharaohs is an alleged hex that some believe is cast on anyone who disturbs an Ancient Egyptian mummy, especially a pharaoh.
It’s said to caused bad luck, illness or even death and apparently does not differentiate between archaeologists and thieves.
The legend is often connected to King Tutankhamun and the people who passed away after opening his tomb in 1922.
Eight of those involved – including Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who led the expedition – died in the years following the tomb’s discovery.
It’s earned the supposed spell the nickname “King Tut’s curse”.
Needless to say, experts rubbish any claims of a hex surrounding Ancient Egypt’s mummies.
Sceptics have pointed out that dozens of people who visited Tut’s tomb or helped to discover it lived long and healthy lives.