In the eastern Nile Delta lies Tanis, ancient Djanet — capital of Egypt’s 21st and 22nd Dynasty kings, and home to one of archaeology’s greatest, yet least-known discoveries: a set of intact royal tombs rivaling the treasures of Tutankhamun.
The Discovery That Time Forgot
French Egyptologist Pierre Montet began excavating Tanis in 1929, spending a decade clearing the Temple of Amun precinct before his breakthrough in February 1939 — uncovering a hidden underground tomb complex. Inside, he found the intact burials of pharaohs Psusennes I, Amenemope, and a previously unknown king, Sheshonq II — their solid silver and gold treasures rivaling anything found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, discovered less than two decades earlier.
Overshadowed by History
Unlike Howard Carter’s Tutankhamun discovery, which captured worldwide attention in the 1920s, Montet’s find made barely a ripple. As he opened Psusennes I’s silver coffin in early 1940, Nazi Germany’s invasion of France dominated global headlines, leaving one of Egyptology’s greatest discoveries almost entirely unnoticed at the time.
A King’s Elaborate Defense
Psusennes I’s burial reveals genuinely extraordinary craftsmanship — his mummy was protected by a red granite outer sarcophagus (originally carved for an earlier pharaoh), nested inside a black basalt sarcophagus, and finally inside a coffin crafted entirely from solid silver — a material even rarer and more valuable than gold in ancient Egypt.
Ongoing Discoveries
Excavations at Tanis continue to this day, with recent finds still emerging from the royal necropolis, including newly discovered ushabti figurines helping researchers piece together the burial of King Shoshenq III, whose actual tomb location had long remained uncertain.
Visiting Tanis
Tanis sits in the eastern Nile Delta, less visited than Egypt’s classic sites but rich with both ancient royal history and biblical significance as the city of Zoan. Explore our Egypt Christian Tours →
Frequently Asked Questions
What was found at Tanis?
French archaeologist Pierre Montet discovered a series of intact royal tombs in 1939, including the burials of pharaohs Psusennes I, Amenemope, and Sheshonq II, with treasures rivaling Tutankhamun’s.
Why isn’t Tanis as famous as Tutankhamun’s tomb?
Montet’s discovery in 1939-1940 coincided with the outbreak of World War II, meaning global attention was focused elsewhere, and the find never received the international fame Tutankhamun’s tomb did two decades earlier.
Is Tanis still being excavated today?
Yes — archaeological work continues at Tanis, with new discoveries still emerging from the royal necropolis in recent years.
