CAIRO - Dutch archaeologists have discovered a tomb in the Saqqara necropolis from the time of Egypt's monotheistic pharaoh Akhenaton some 3,300 years ago, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said Wednesday.
The discovery shows that notables contemporary with Akhenaton continued to be buried in Saqqara, just outside the modern day capital of Cairo, indicating the enduring importance of old religious orthodoxy under "the heretic pharaoh".
"The discovery confirms the existence of tombs from important men of state during the time of pharaoh Akhenaton after the same delegation found another tomb from this period several years before," said SCA head Zahi Hawass, who described it as one of the "most important" discoveries in the area.
Pharaoh Akhenaton of the 18th dynasty broke with millennia of ancient Egyptian tradition by insisting on the worship of one god, Aton the sun, instead of many, and left Egypt's traditional capital to build a new city dedicated to solar worship at Tel Amarna.
The tomb, which bears the royal cartouche for "Ptah Am Waya" is covered with wall paintings done in the realistic style of the period when classic artistic conventions were abandoned.
The wall paintings include those of "Ptah" going to the afterlife as well scenes of daily life, such as monkeys eating dates.
The Dutch team has been working in Saqqara since the 1990s, and focuses on New Kingdom tombs, particularly those from Akhenaton. Previously they discovered the tomb of the Akhenaton-era priest Meri Neet.
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