The tomb of a woman named Helpet was found in Cairo, Egypt, during archaeological excavations in the vicinity of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The tomb site is part of a cemetery that housed officials of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt.
The Fifth Dynasty of Egypt was a period of reign of the pharaohs that lasted approximately 150 years, from the early 25th century BC to the mid-24th century BC.
The pharaohs of this dynasty were considered incarnate sons of Ra, the sun god and the main Egyptian deity, but this was a turbulent period, with signs of political, economic and religious unrest where the nobility began to threaten monarchical hegemony.
Studying the site, experts discovered that Helpet belonged to the high elite and had a strong connection with the royal palace.
Helpet was a priestess of Hathor, the Goddess of Fertility, and one of her duties was to help women in childbirth.
The tomb was adorned with very rare and well-preserved wall paintings, which greatly excited the archaeologists.
The paintings depict various scenes from Helpet’s daily life, including moments of hunting, fishing, and receiving offerings.
Other scenes such as monkeys shown as domestic animals and music and dance performances were also depicted.
The tomb possessed a traditional Fifth Dynasty style of architecture and decorative elements, with an entrance leading to an L-shaped shrine.
Archaeologists have dated the tomb to around 2400 B.C.
More studies will be done on the tomb to decipher all its secrets.
