• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Ancient tomb of royal physician Teti Neb Fu discovered in Saqqara

by Dario Radley
January 7, 2025

A team of French and Swiss archaeologists working in the ancient burial ground of Saqqara, outside Memphis in Egypt, has discovered a significant find. They excavated the tomb of Teti Neb Fu, a doctor to the royal family who served during the reign of King Pepi II, during the Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. The tomb is believed to have been built around 4,000 years ago. It provides us a glimpse of what was considered advanced medicine back then as well as how science and magic were intertwined in ancient Egyptian society.

Ancient tomb of royal physician Teti Neb Fu discovered in Saqqara
One of the tombs in Saqqara: the Tomb of Mereruka, Vizier of Teti, 6th Dynasty, ca. 2330 BCE. Credit: Prof. Mortel, Wikimedia Commons

Teti Neb Fu was not a typical healer. Among his many titles were Chief Palace Physician, Priest and “Magician” of the Goddess Serket, Chief Dentist and Director of Medicinal Plants. His expertise in both medicine and magic illustrates how ancient Egyptians viewed physical and spiritual healing as interrelated. As Chief Dentist and Director of Medicinal Plants, Teti Neb Fu likely played a crucial role in developing innovative, less invasive surgeries, drug-based treatments, and early methods to fix teeth. His title, “Magician of Serket,” named for the goddess of venomous beasts, also suggests that he knew extensively how to deal with snake and scorpion bites, knowledge revered in ancient Egyptian medicine.

The tomb is a mudbrick mastaba structure with beautifully detailed carvings, painted walls, and inscriptions detailing Teti Neb Fu’s legacy. The painted false door, rendered in bright colors and detailed engravings, represents an opening to the worlds of the living and the dead. The ceiling, which is painted in red and designed to appear like granite stones, adds to the burial site’s magnificence.

Dr. Philippe Collombert, who leads the French-Swiss archaeological mission, explained that preliminary studies suggest the mastaba was likely looted in ancient times. However, the walls remain intact.

The tomb contains a stone sarcophagus with hieroglyphs carved into it spelling out Teti Neb Fu’s name and titles. This discovery, and the tomb’s lavish decorations, confirm he held a significant place in the royal court.

RelatedStories

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
Earliest use of psychoactive plant 'harmal' uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

Earliest use of psychoactive plant ‘harmal’ uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

May 24, 2025

Saqqara, located about 25 miles southwest of Cairo, is often described as an “open-air museum” because of its rich history. It is the burial place of kings, officials, and holy people of Egypt’s ancient dynasties. The tomb is part of a larger excavation project, which seeks the burial places of state officials who served under King Pepi II. The sites are near King Pepi I’s burial complex and the tombs of his queens.

The French-Swiss team has been digging in this area since 2022. Their earlier finds include the mastaba of Vizier Weni. His long autobiographical inscriptions provide useful historical records of the Old Kingdom.

The tomb of Teti Neb Fu reflects both the advanced medical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians and the significant role magic played in their healing methods. The ancient Egyptians knew how to deal with heart problems, care for teeth, and even treat mental health issues such as dementia and depression. Mixing these methods with spiritual rituals shows their all-round approach to health.

More information: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
Share2Tweet1ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist
Archaeology

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite
Archaeology

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest
Archaeology

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025
4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age
Archaeology

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

May 29, 2025
Over 100 Chachapoya structures discovered at Gran Pajatén in Peru’s Andes
Archaeology

Over 100 Chachapoya structures discovered at Gran Pajatén in Peru’s Andes

May 29, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure
Archaeology

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025

Comments 2

  1. Melody Brown says:
    5 months ago

    Why are the faces of Egyptian statues destroyed? Even newly unearthed statues like this one? It can’t all be Napoleon?

    Reply
    • Joe Stitzel says:
      5 months ago

      People that lived then likely felt leaders as dictators having it all while they suffered in their own way, complaining while living but upon boss dying get some revenge ! but I also feel strongly; remove statue from its place and likely artifacts or discoveries hidden behind it,, if decided to knock out the back wall

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

May 27, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025
4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

May 29, 2025
Over 100 Chachapoya structures discovered at Gran Pajatén in Peru’s Andes

Over 100 Chachapoya structures discovered at Gran Pajatén in Peru’s Andes

May 29, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.