Muhammed GoneimEgyptian Egyptologist and archaeologist
Country: Egypt
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Archaeological Career
- Extensive Experience:
- The Discovery of the Pyramid of Sekhemkhet
- The Unfinished Pyramid:
- Identification and Significance:
- Tragic Demise
Early Life and Education
Mohammed Goneim, an esteemed Egyptian Egyptologist and archaeologist, was born and raised in Egypt. In 1934, he graduated from Cairo University, where he studied Egyptology under the tutelage of renowned Russian Egyptologist V.S. Golenishchev.
Archaeological Career
Early Roles:After graduating, Goneim assumed the role of Curator of Antiquities in Saqqara, a pivotal site in Egyptian archaeology. Later, in 1939, he was appointed Chief Inspector of Antiquities in Saqqara.
Extensive Experience:
As Inspector, Goneim played a crucial role in archaeological expeditions across Egypt, including Aswan, Edfu, and Luxor's Theban Necropolis. He also held the position of Chief Inspector for all of Upper Egypt.
The Discovery of the Pyramid of Sekhemkhet
Excavations in Saqqara:On March 9, 1951, Goneim returned to Saqqara as Inspector and immersed himself in excavations at the vast necropolis. One of his major discoveries was the Temple of Unas, located near Memphis.
The Unfinished Pyramid:
On September 27, 1951, Goneim began excavations in Saqqara once more. On January 29, 1952, he stumbled upon an extraordinary find: the remains of an unfinished pyramid buried beneath the desert sands.
Identification and Significance:
Through meticulous analysis of inscriptions and comparative studies of the pyramid and other tombs of the Third Dynasty, Goneim concluded that the name inscribed within the pyramid likely belonged to Sekhemkhet, an unknown successor to Pharaoh Djoser. This discovery established the pyramid as the second oldest in Egypt after Djoser's pyramid.
Tragic Demise
In 1959, Mohammed Zakaria Goneim met an untimely end under tragic circumstances. Falsely accused of antiquities smuggling, he leaped into the Nile River. As a testament to his contributions, a marble bust of Goneim is prominently displayed in front of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.