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- 10/16/2021
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The Expedition - 9. Chapter 9- Epilogue
Several months later, we met with Mostafa in Cairo. He had opened the urns that we found in the temple. He also had deciphered the scroll we found next to the skeleton which I had placed in a coffin.
Sitting in Mostafa’s office, “Howard, Mahmoud, in each urn was a scroll, three golden coins, and tissue that we have identified as the organs which were removed before the body was treated according to the procedures for mummification. I have a list of the names of the boys. Their duties were to offer prayers to Alexander and dependent on their ancestry, Zeus or Amun. There was a ritual that involved the high priest. The boys wore what we would call a loincloth. That was their only clothing. Initially, food was supplied by soldiers who guarded the temple.
Before the abandonment of the site, the soldiers provide sarcophagi for the high priest and the boys. Sacks of grain and the urns originally contained water. One man stayed as a caregiver. He was the man who we found next to the sarcophagus who we now know was the high priest.”
I sat there listening to Mostafa. “Did you discover who commissioned the construction of the tomb?”
“There wasn’t anything in the scrolls to indicate who commissioned the construction. I believe it was Ptolemy. The three Greek boys probably were attendees to Alexander when he was alive.”
“What do you think happened to Alexander’s treasure?”
“If I had to guess, it lies with him under that platform.”
“Howard, before we go back to England, I would like to see that site one more time.”
I wondered how much sand had claimed the temple. We hired a helicopter and flew over the site, or what we thought was the site, all we saw was sand. “Fly in a larger circle just to make sure we are at the right spot.” We flew in a concentric circle for an hour—nothing except sand.
We flew back to Cairo. Mostafa agreed to send us a report, Mahmoud and I flew home.
Over the next few months, Mahmoud and I printed a book with pictures incorporating Mostafa’s report.
In the quiet of the evening, I think about that temple. I dream I am one of the boys offering allegiance to Alexander, the son of two gods.
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