The burial vault, lavishly filled with treasures, was discovered almost by accident in 1939 by the French archaeologist Pierre Monte in northern Egypt. The royal burial chamber came as a complete surprise - no Egyptologist expected to find such a great tomb in this area. Unfortunately, the tomb was opened on the eve of World War II and received little attention.
The silver sarcophagus was placed in a black granite coffin, which in turn was set in an outer pink granite sarcophagus.
The coffin of the pharaoh was a stunning find of the burial: it was made of silver with exquisite detailing and craftsmanship. No other silver sarcophagus has ever been found and is now recognized by many Egyptologists as one of the most exquisite artifacts of ancient Egypt ever discovered. Silver was then valued almost twice as much as gold.
The countless treasures of the tomb pointed to the burial of someone very influential. By studying the hieroglyphs inside the tomb, archaeologists have identified the identity of the pharaoh, his powerful role in ancient Egypt, and why he received such a grand burial.
Psusennes I is the pharaoh who ruled Egypt over 3000 years ago, during what is known as the Third Intermediate Period. According to some sources, he reigned for 41 years, according to others - 46 years. It was an impressive feat in comparison with Tutankhamun, whose reign lasted ten years.
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Examination of the remains of Psusennes revealed a hardworking man who suffered from a debilitating rheumatic disease, but was in good shape until age 80. Pharaoh's physical resilience contributed to his success as a great leader who ultimately unified Egypt. The history of the tomb and the virtually unknown ruler helps fill in some of the gaps in the past of ancient Egypt.
Archaeologists were able to determine how the "Silver Pharaoh" amassed his fortune and gained authority by deciphering the ruler's cartouche and royal seal. The first clue was found on a common silver platter. It bore the signature of Psusennes I, as well as a number of hieroglyphic inscriptions referring to his titles. Surprisingly, he was not only a pharaoh, but also a high priest.
Particularly notable among the items found in the tomb was the golden mask of Psusennes, which was found completely intact. Made of gold and lapis lazuli, it is considered one of the treasury masterpieces.