2 ancient tombs discovered in Egypt

Two Ptolemaic tombs from the first century A.D. in the Roman necropolis at al-Qantar near Ismailiya were discovered, Egypt's Ministry of State Antiquities said. One of the tombs was that of a priest named Mina from a Roman area of Sila, antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online Wednesday. The tomb is built of mud bricks, has a vaulted ceiling and burial shaft, and the walls are decorated with colored paintings depicting Mina in front of the goddess Isis. The second tomb, built of limestone has yet to be identified but a collection of Ptolemaic clay pots and pans were found inside, Ibrahim said. Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, head of the ministry's ancient Egyptian section, said the necropolis was subjected to illegal excavation but police caught the culprits.