Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Scientists suggest that the shifting of bodies in the tomb may have been motivated by political instability at the time.
Archaeologists working in northern Egypt have discovered 225 shabti figurines belonging to Pharaoh Shoshenq III in a surprising location: inside the tomb of another ruler, Osorkon II.
The shabtis, small faience figurines intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife, carrying out work on their behalf, were found in the northern chamber of the tomb of Osorkon II, at the archaeological site of Tanis. Although the tomb and a nearby uninscribed sarcophagus were discovered in 1939, the figurines went unnoticed until an Egyptian-French conservation team examined the area in more detail. Hieroglyphic inscriptions on shabtis confirmed that they belonged to Shoshenq III, who ruled from about 825 to 773 BC
The presence of shabtis in the tomb of a predecessor suggests that Shoshenq III was not buried in the tomb he built for himself at Tanis. Instead, he appears to have been buried inside the unmarked sarcophagus located in the Osorkon II burial complex. “The presence of the shabtis near the anonymous sarcophagus and the inscriptions on the adjacent wall clearly indicate that [Shoshenq III] was buried there and not in your own grave“, stated Frédéric Payraudeau, director of the French archaeological mission in Tanis.
The revelation raises questions about why the pharaoh’s burial site was changed. Shoshenq III reigned during a turbulent era marked by internal conflict, including dynastic fights with two kings from the south who were also his relatives. Despite the instability, the pharaoh commissioned several monumental structures at Tanis, including a large gate at the entrance to the temple’s main precinct. The choice to bury him in the tomb of Osorkon II may have been influenced by political disputes, succession issues or pressure after his death, suggests the .
Supporting this theory, experts note that some artifacts in Shoshenq III’s original tomb are named after Shoshenq IV, a later ruler of the 23rd dynasty. According to Egyptologist Aidan Dodson, this suggests that Shoshenq IV may have repurposed Shoshenq III’s tomb for himselfmoving the tomb of the previous pharaoh to the Osorkon II complex. The reuse of tombs, although not uncommon in Ancient Egypt, often reflected changes in political priorities or practical considerations.
Conservation work on the tomb of Osorkon II continues, and researchers are currently deciphering additional inscriptions found alongside the figurines, in the hope of clarify the circumstances which involve the unexpected final resting place of Shoshenq III.
