Archaeologists Discover Two Lion Cub Mummies Inside a Special Tomb for Cat Burials in Egypt

Two mummified lion cubs, about 2,600 years old, were discovered in a tomb full of cat statues and mummies at the necropolis of Saqqara near Cairo, according to Business Insider. This is the first time complete lion cub mummies have been discovered in Egypt, making this a very important find for archaeologists studying ancient Egyptian animal worship. The lions, all less than three feet long, were mummified by having their organs removed and their bodies carefully wrapped in linen, then placed in wooden boxes decorated with hieroglyphics. Mostafa Waziri, head of the archaeological mission, said the cubs were about eight months old when they were mummified and thus had died before reaching maturity.

Alongside the lion cubs, researchers uncovered three other large cat mummies whose species remain unidentified. CT scans analyzing the bones' size and shape suggest these could be leopards, cheetahs, or other indigenous big cats like the caracal. The discovery site also yielded around twenty mummies of smaller cats, likely African wildcats or jungle cats native to the region.

The tomb revealed an extraordinary collection of artifacts celebrating feline divinity. Archaeologists found 75 wooden and bronze cat statues, many embellished with gold decorations and intricate paintings. A notable discovery was a tall bronze statue representing Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess associated with protection, music, and pleasure.

The site's location and contents suggest it served as a specialized complex for cat burials during the 26th dynasty, stated Live Science. An ivory statue of the goddess Neith was helpful for archaeologists in dating which tomb this was. Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, Khaled al-Anani, said Neith was the patron goddess of Sais, Egypt's capital, during the 26th dynasty period. The largest scarab-shaped artifact ever to be seen in Egypt, more than a foot in diameter, was another discovery.

Lions held a particular significance in ancient Egyptian culture, representing both danger and protection. The pharaohs went on lion hunts to show their strength; there is a record from one such event where Amenhotep III claimed to have killed more than a hundred lions, stated Business Insider. Despite the cultural importance of lions, mummified lions are exceptionally rare in the archaeological record. Before this discovery, only partial remains of an adult lion skeleton had been found in the same area by a French archaeological team in 2004.

The Saqqara necropolis where these artifacts were found has proven to be a treasure trove of ancient Egyptian culture. The site served as a center for worship of the cat goddess Bastet and her son, the lion god Miysis, during the Late Period of ancient Egypt, stated Syfy. Beyond the feline-related discoveries, archaeologists also found mummified crocodiles, cobras, birds, and meticulously preserved scarab beetles, highlighting the ancient Egyptians' practice of animal mummification for religious purposes.