The World's Wealthiest Tombs
Sacred. Ancient. Spiritual. Creepy. These are just a few of the words used to describe tombs. That's not surprising due to the fact that tombs involve death, which can sometimes be described using the same terms. Ancient cultures had superstitious beliefs about the afterlife, which included the riches gained in this world. They also had a great respect for the dead. It is easy to understand why many ancient cultures thought that tombs should be sealed with vast amounts of treasures and riches. Tombs of kings and pharaohs are evidence of this belief.
Look at one of the wealthiest tombs in history: the tomb of Nefertari. Nefertari was the wife of Ramses II, one of the most famous Egyptian pharaohs. Egyptian tombs have a history of being famous for their wealth. They quite literally contain buried treasure. This particular tomb is intricately designed and very well kept. It holds the mummified body of Nefertari, excerpts from the Book of the Dead, and many wall paintings, jewelry in the form of rings, crowns, bracelets, stones, and precious materials. The tomb became open to the public in 1995, but is very expensive to view.
Perhaps the most famous tomb of all time was that of Egyptian King Tutankhamun. The vast fortune buried with Tut was discovered in 1922 and much of it is currently on tour. The value of the tomb is unimaginable. One of the kings golden coffins is valued at over $6 million dollars today.
Another extremely valuable tomb was that of Lady Dai, who lived in the Hunan Province of China almost 2,100 years ago. The wife of a nobleman, she was a fat lady with many medical problems which contributed to her cause of death at about fifty years old. Her tomb, which was very well preserved, was discovered in 1970. There were over 1,400 artefacts preserved with her body, adding to the incredible wealth of her tomb. These artefacts testified to her luxuriant lifestyle, with articles of expensive clothing, food, and makeup among the findings. There were two other tombs found beside hers. Her husband’s tomb, which had been looted with almost nothing left of value, including her husband’s body, was nearby. An unknown tomb was also found, which archaeologists believe may be the tomb of a child or a brother.
There have not been as many tombs discovered in North or South America because colonization didn't occur until later in history, but among those found, the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, dubbed the "Peruvian King Tut" is the wealthiest. The bodies of Sipan as well as seven other bodies, presumably family, were found within the tomb, which was made about 1,500 years ago. Times Magazine dubbed the tomb, "The Golden Wonder" due to the vast amounts of gold and precious material found within the tomb, including a golden knife, face-mask, and crown, pointing to Sipan's warrior-priest reign.
Look at one of the wealthiest tombs in history: the tomb of Nefertari. Nefertari was the wife of Ramses II, one of the most famous Egyptian pharaohs. Egyptian tombs have a history of being famous for their wealth. They quite literally contain buried treasure. This particular tomb is intricately designed and very well kept. It holds the mummified body of Nefertari, excerpts from the Book of the Dead, and many wall paintings, jewelry in the form of rings, crowns, bracelets, stones, and precious materials. The tomb became open to the public in 1995, but is very expensive to view.
Perhaps the most famous tomb of all time was that of Egyptian King Tutankhamun. The vast fortune buried with Tut was discovered in 1922 and much of it is currently on tour. The value of the tomb is unimaginable. One of the kings golden coffins is valued at over $6 million dollars today.
Another extremely valuable tomb was that of Lady Dai, who lived in the Hunan Province of China almost 2,100 years ago. The wife of a nobleman, she was a fat lady with many medical problems which contributed to her cause of death at about fifty years old. Her tomb, which was very well preserved, was discovered in 1970. There were over 1,400 artefacts preserved with her body, adding to the incredible wealth of her tomb. These artefacts testified to her luxuriant lifestyle, with articles of expensive clothing, food, and makeup among the findings. There were two other tombs found beside hers. Her husband’s tomb, which had been looted with almost nothing left of value, including her husband’s body, was nearby. An unknown tomb was also found, which archaeologists believe may be the tomb of a child or a brother.
There have not been as many tombs discovered in North or South America because colonization didn't occur until later in history, but among those found, the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, dubbed the "Peruvian King Tut" is the wealthiest. The bodies of Sipan as well as seven other bodies, presumably family, were found within the tomb, which was made about 1,500 years ago. Times Magazine dubbed the tomb, "The Golden Wonder" due to the vast amounts of gold and precious material found within the tomb, including a golden knife, face-mask, and crown, pointing to Sipan's warrior-priest reign.