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PICTORIAL: British Egyptologists Uncover Ancient Pharaoh’s Tomb In Egypt

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Over a century after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, British Egyptologists have made another groundbreaking find — the long-lost burial site of Pharaoh Thutmose II, a ruler of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty who lived nearly 3,500 years ago.

The tomb, identified as “C4,” was discovered approximately 2.4 km west of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

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The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the find, finally resolving the mystery surrounding Thutmose II’s resting place.

For generations, scholars believed his tomb was located near the Valley of the Kings. However, a team led by Professor Piers Litherland from the University of Cambridge uncovered it in an unexpected location — an area previously associated with the burials of royal women.

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According to the BBC on Thursday, the entrance to the tomb was first identified in 2022, but extensive excavation was required before experts could confirm that it belonged to Thutmose II. Professor Litherland, who has spent over a decade exploring the Valley of the Kings, discovered a staircase carved into the rock at the base of a cliff, leading to a grand descending corridor.

Initially, the team suspected they had found the tomb of a royal wife.

However, the large doorway and staircase suggested something far more significant. The chamber was filled with sand and limestone debris from ancient floods, delaying access to the burial site. After painstaking excavation, they finally reached the burial chamber.

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Inside, they found a ceiling painted blue with yellow stars — a design reserved exclusively for pharaohs. The walls were adorned with scenes from the Amduat, an ancient religious text intended only for kings.

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Additionally, fragments of alabaster jars bore inscriptions confirming Thutmose II as the “deceased king,” alongside the name of his wife, Hatshepsut.

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Unlike the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, Thutmose II’s chamber contained no treasures or mummified remains. Experts believe flooding forced ancient Egyptians to relocate the pharaoh’s body to the Deir el-Bahri cache, where it was discovered in the 19th century in poor condition — his remains were damaged, and his right arm had been severed.

However, recent studies have cast doubt on the identity of the mummy. The remains are estimated to belong to a man over 30 years old, yet Thutmose II is believed to have died before reaching 30.

Scholars suggest he may have succumbed to disease, as his embalmed body showed signs of an illness that the mummification process could not erase.

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Thutmose II ruled either for 13 years (1493–1479 BCE) or as little as three years (1482–1479 BCE), according to various historical estimates. He was part of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, a period often regarded as the pinnacle of Ancient Egyptian civilization. The dynasty, which lasted over 200 years (circa 1539–1292 BCE), produced legendary figures such as Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I, and Tutankhamun.

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Israeli Strike Kills Al Jazeera Journalist In Gaza

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Al Jazeera on Monday said one of its journalists was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza, two weeks after the broadcaster lost six staff and freelancers in an attack.

Mohammad Salama, a photojournalist and cameraman, was killed in an attack on a medical complex that left 14 people dead, the Qatar-based news network said.

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His death was “confirmed,” a spokesperson told AFP.

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Earlier this month, four Al Jazeera staff and two freelancers were killed in an Israeli air strike outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, prompting widespread condemnation.

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Mahmud Bassal, Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesman, also said the death toll in the latest attack stood at 14, including journalists.

An Israeli explosive drone targeted a building at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, followed by an airstrike as the wounded were being evacuated, Bassal said.

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42 Killed In Israeli Attacks, Says Gaza’s Civil Defense

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Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 42 people killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday, as the Israeli army prepared for a new assault on the Palestinian territory’s largest city.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said there had been several air strikes around Gaza City — which the military is gearing up to capture — including one in the Al-Sabra neighbourhood that killed eight people.

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Attacks were also reported elsewhere across the territory, he said, with the “total tally currently rising to 42 dead”.

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The army did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the figure.

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The situation is extremely dangerous… Each day, each minute, there are bombings, martyrs, death and blood — we can’t take it anymore,” Al-Sabra resident Ibrahim Al-Shurafa told AFP, explaining strikes and shelling were ongoing.

We don’t know where to go. Death follows us everywhere,” he added.

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Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.

The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Israel’s offensive has killed at least 62,686 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable.

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Venezuela Frees Eight Opposition Leaders

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Venezuelan authorities released eight opposition leaders from jail early Sunday, including a former congressman and two Italian citizens, and granted house arrest to five others, an opposition politician said.

Most of those released had been charged with corruption in opposition-run mayoral offices.

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Also set free was Congressman, Amirico de Grazia, detained amid protests that erupted during President Nicolas Maduro’s reelection in 2024.

READ ALSO:Russia, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners Of War, Civilians

Today, several families are once again embracing their loved ones. We know there are many left, and we have not forgotten them; we continue to fight for everyone,” two-time former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said on X.

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Opposition leaders Victor Jurado, Simon Vargas, Arelis Ojeda Escalante, Mayra Castro, Diana Berrio, Gorka Carnevalli, as well as Italian nationals Margarita Assenzo and de Grazia were released, Capriles said.

Nabil Maalouf, Valentin Gutierrez Pineda, Rafael Ramirez, Pedro Guanipa, and David Barroso were placed under house arrest.

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The Italian government confirmed the release of de Grazia and Assenzo, who must appear in court to clarify the conditions of their release. It also vowed to continue working on securing the release of other detained Italians.

We have always said, and we maintain it: we will talk to whomever we need to talk to so that there is not a single political prisoner in our Venezuela!” Capriles added.

AFP

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