Giza Pyramids

Egypt's top archaeologist showed off the newly discovered tomb of a pharaonic priest on Tuesday, a find he said could point the way to a new necropolis to be excavated near the famed Giza pyramids.Standing inside the 4,300-year-old structure, Zahi Hawass said hieroglyphics on the tomb's walls indicate it belonged to Rudj-ka, a priest inspector in the mortuary cult of the pharaoh Khafre, who built the second largest of Giza's pyramids.The tomb — about the size of a train car — was adorned with paintings, some of them still vivid. Images on one wall depict a man standing on a boat, spearing fish. Nearby are lotus flowers and different types of birds standing or in flight.A series of false doors line the opposite wall. A painting above one shows two figures seated opposite each other at an offering table.The priest, buried with his family, would have supervised those presenting sacrifices to the pharaoh, Hawass said."It is very clear that this man was carrying out a very important role," ...

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