2020 has been a scary year so far: we’ve had everything from Apocalyptic fires and a pandemic to social unrest and a close call with WW3. Now, archeologists in Egypt have unsealed the first of 59 wooden sarcophagi that date to around 2,500 years ago. Understandably, the internet is losing its mind and freaking out (just a tad) about how 2020 is not the year to do that. The first coffin, containing an ancient mummy, was cracked open in front of a live audience, including foreign dignitaries and members of the media. Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, praised his colleagues for not letting Covid-19 stop them from unearthing the secrets of the Ancient World. The sarcophagi will be taken to the Grand Egyptian Museum where they will be displayed to the public. All jokes aside, this is a huge historical moment and it’s reminding me why I love history so much. Personally, I’m jealous of anyone who will have the opportunity to see the sarcophagi in person. In the meantime, scroll on down and see how people reacted to the first coffin being opened. Archeologists found 59 colored wooden sarcophagi in the Saqqara Necropolis Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Image credits: VisuallySt They cracked open the first coffin in front of a live audience Image credits: VisuallySt Image credits: VisuallySt Image credits: VisuallySt Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Here’s a video of the sarcophagus being opened The mummy tomb, which has been sealed for 2500 years, has been opened for the first time. pic.twitter.com/KWGT95girv — Psychedelic Art (@VisuallySt) October 5, 2020 Image credits: VisuallySt The dig was launched amid the 11 pyramids of Saqqara in 2018 and yielded great results. The wooden coffins were found inside 10-12 meter deep burial wells in the Saqqara Necropolis. The sarcophagi were found in good condition: they still have their original colors. The coffins most likely belonged to priests and other members of high standing society. However, they weren’t the only archeological finds of note during the expedition: researchers also found various statues and sculptures. Previously, members of the dig found mummified lions, cats, cobras, and crocodiles, according to the New York Post. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rewatch ‘The Mummy’ movies for pointers and look at rowing boat prices (mummies can’t swim, right?). Just in case. And here’s how some people reacted to archeologists cracking open ancient coffins while it’s still 2020 Image credits: CaliConserv1 Image credits: MyrddinLeFay Image credits: FlorkOfCows Image credits: Bebe_Bankss Image credits: zkanSheol Image credits: Digital_Mozart Image credits: VaughnSmarsh Image credits: HNSeal2 Image credits: convictedloner Image credits: Corbit_THFC Egyptian Archaeologists Unseal A 2,500-Year-Old Sarcophagus And Cause The Internet To Freak Out

2020 has been a scary year so far: we’ve had everything from Apocalyptic fires and a pandemic to social unrest and a close call with WW3. Now, archeologists in Egypt have unsealed the first of 59 wooden sarcophagi that date to around 2,500 years ago. Understandably, the internet is losing its mind and freaking out (just a tad) about how 2020 is not the year to do that.

The first coffin, containing an ancient mummy, was cracked open in front of a live audience, including foreign dignitaries and members of the media. Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, praised his colleagues for not letting Covid-19 stop them from unearthing the secrets of the Ancient World. The sarcophagi will be taken to the Grand Egyptian Museum where they will be displayed to the public.

All jokes aside, this is a huge historical moment and it’s reminding me why I love history so much. Personally, I’m jealous of anyone who will have the opportunity to see the sarcophagi in person. In the meantime, scroll on down and see how people reacted to the first coffin being opened.

Archeologists found 59 colored wooden sarcophagi in the Saqqara Necropolis

Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Image credits: VisuallySt

They cracked open the first coffin in front of a live audience

Image credits: VisuallySt

Image credits: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Here’s a video of the sarcophagus being opened

The mummy tomb, which has been sealed for 2500 years, has been opened for the first time. pic.twitter.com/KWGT95girv

— Psychedelic Art (@VisuallySt) October 5, 2020

Image credits: VisuallySt

The dig was launched amid the 11 pyramids of Saqqara in 2018 and yielded great results. The wooden coffins were found inside 10-12 meter deep burial wells in the Saqqara Necropolis.

The sarcophagi were found in good condition: they still have their original colors. The coffins most likely belonged to priests and other members of high standing society.

However, they weren’t the only archeological finds of note during the expedition: researchers also found various statues and sculptures. Previously, members of the dig found mummified lions, cats, cobras, and crocodiles, according to the New York Post.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rewatch ‘The Mummy’ movies for pointers and look at rowing boat prices (mummies can’t swim, right?). Just in case.