Ancient Egyptian Boat Images Discovered in Abydos

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA—More than 120 images of boats have been found on the walls of a building in Abydos, Egypt, that dates back 3,800 years, according to Live Science. The building was built near the tomb of the pharaoh Senusret III (r. 1836–1818 B.C.). The images, which range in size from four inches to five feet across, would have overlooked a real wooden boat, only a few planks of which remain. The researchers, led by Josef Wegner of the University of Pennsylvania, believe there were even more images on the walls in ancient times. Inside the building, they also found more than 145 ceramic vessels. It appears that the boat images were drawn quickly by a number of people, possibly as part of a funerary ceremony for Senusret III. The pottery vessels may have been used to spill water on the ground during such a ceremony to symbolically float the boat. Further excavations are planned to learn more about the site. For more about archaeology in Egypt, go to “The Great Parallelogram.”