Accordingly, scientists studied and analyzed two of 15 ancient tombs discovered in the 1920s at the Valsgärde farm, on the outskirts of the city of Uppsala, central Sweden. Specifically, two ancient tombs are the resting place of two warriors from the 7th century. They were buried in boats with helmets, shields and elaborately decorated weapons, even with puzzle pieces. play. The boats carrying the remains of the two warriors were about 9m long each, with 4-5 pairs of oars. Warrior helmet… and elaborately decorated weapons found in ancient tombs. The remains of the two warriors were laid on a soft mattress, stuffed with the feathers of various birds. Researchers believe that the ancients prepared these items in the hope that the journey to the afterlife of the deceased would be easier. Microscopic analysis showed that the feathers in the mattress were taken from geese, ducks, partridges, crows, sparrows, wading birds (swamp birds) and even eagle owls. More strangely, in a grave, there is an Eurasian card owl with its head cut off. Horse bones and other animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, snowy owls, partridges, ducks, geese, and northern pike) were also found near the boats when they were buried about 1,400 years ago. There are also animal-related artifacts, including 20 horseshoes, one saddle, four bridles, and 4-5 dog leashes. “The warriors seem to be equipped to sail to the afterlife, and can also go ashore with the help of horses. We guessed that the choice of down blankets could have a deeper, more symbolic meaning,” said Professor Birgitta Berglund of the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim, Norway. Feathers are used to make blankets for the dead. Various animals and related artifacts were buried with the boat. According to Norse folklore, the stuffed feathers in bedding for the dying are very important. Professor Berglund explained, the ancients believed that using feathers of domestic chickens, owls, birds of prey, pigeons, crows and squirrels would help prolong the time of “fighting” with death. “In some parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, goose feathers are considered the best item to help the soul escape from the body,” he points out. The soft feathers in the Valsgärde tombs, the oldest known to have been found in Scandinavia, suggest that the two warriors belonged to the highest class of Iron Age society there. Wealthy Greeks and Romans had been bedridden for hundreds of years before that, but the rich in Europe probably didn’t use it widely until the Middle Ages, Mr. Berglund said. Mr Berglund believes that the decapitated owl was related to the burial ritual. The keeping of birds of prey like eagle owls has long been a status symbol, according to the researchers. “It’s possible that the owls’ heads were cut off to prevent it from coming back,” said the professor, referring to the swords bent in front of the Viking-era mausoleum to prevent the dead from using weapons should they return from the realm of the dead. died. Dead warriors are well-equipped for the journey to the afterlife. Valsgärde began to be excavated in 1928 by archaeologists from the Uppsala University Museum today. More than 90 tombs from the Iron Age were discovered here, including 15 warriors buried by boat burial from the late Iron Age (570–1030 AD). The two tombs that have been the focus of new research are named Valsgärde 7 and 8, both dating to the 7th century. According to Professor Berglund, Valsgärde 7 was excavated in 1933, while Valsgärde 8 was excavated. in 1936. In addition to revealing Iron Age burial rituals, the new study also determines whether feathers used as blankets for warriors were imported or sourced from local birds. If it was imported feathers, this would open the door to a certain historical trade route. Study co-author, biologist Jørgen Rosvold, from the Norwegian Institute of Natural History (NINA), said that making the feather material is time-consuming and challenging for several reasons. “I am still amazed at how well the feathers are preserved despite the fact that they have been lying in the ground for more than 1,000 years,” he said. Research results show that feathers are obtained from different types of birds locally, not through import. “The feathers provide new perspectives on past relationships between humans and birds. Archaeological excavations rarely find traces of birds other than those used for food,” concluded Berglund.

A false door dated to 2,400 BC. Photo: Sharron Mollerus. What is a fake door? False doors were one of the most common architectural features in ancient Egyptian tombs, mainly royal tombs, dating back to the Egypt’s Old Kingdom period. False doors first appeared in the Mastaba . tombs [loại mộ cổ hình chóp cụt] It belonged to the Third Dynasty and was widely used in tombs of the Fourth to Sixth Dynasties. False doors are usually made from a monolithic limestone rock, sometimes painted red with black spots. Its shape resembles a real door with an outer frame but is longer and narrower, such as the false door in Sean Khui Ptah’s tomb located in the Teti cemetery in Saqqara, Egypt. However, in the tomb of Hesire lăng [bác sĩ của Pharaoh Djoser] and many others, false doors can be made of wood. The fake door is almost always fixed in place. But in rare cases, they can be teleported. The original form of the false door was just a small alcove facing the west. Then, the ancient Egyptians carved out a square or rectangle at the top where they believed that gods or dead relatives would appear to receive offerings. The sides of the door are stone and linoleum [bộ phận nằm trên khung cửa có tác dụng đỡ mảng tường gạch phía trên] where the Egyptians wrote hieroglyphs. During the nearly 150-year rule of Sixth Dynasty pharaohs including Pepi I, Merenre and Pepi II, the false door underwent a series of design and layout changes. Based on that, historians can date many tombs based on the characteristics of the false doors. After the First Intermediate Period, the popularity of false doors in tombs dwindled. During the New Kingdom period, false doors became simpler, just drawings on the flat surface of a wall or stele engraved with hieroglyphs. Sometimes, fake doors are painted on the sides of the stone coffin. A grave may consist of two false doors, one for the owner of the grave and the other for his or her spouse. Also, in some cases of extended family graves, each member has their own false door. Gateway to the afterlife For the ancient Egyptians, false doors were considered a gateway between the world of the living and the world of the dead. They believe that the souls of deceased relatives can pass through this door to receive offerings or offerings. The false door is usually located on the west wall of the main room in the chapel, or altar room. It is meticulously decorated, bearing the name and title of the owner of the tomb. The hieroglyphic content on the false door also refers to offerings for the deceased. Sometimes it was a curse meant to protect the mummy and their spiritual journey after death. Anyone who dares to enter or tamper with the mummy’s tomb will be met with bad luck and inevitable death. However, those with good intentions who come to make offerings will be blessed. For example, the false door in Redi-ness’s tomb at Giza (Egypt) records the following: “I never wanted to harm anyone. But anyone who dares trespass on my resting place will be punished by the gods.” The life-sized statue is walking through the fake door. Photo: Wikimedia In some of the tombs, life-sized statues were created walking out of the center of the false door. On either side of the door were painted two servants accompanying them to show their noble status. Usually, in front of the fake door there will be a stone table – where offerings for the dead are placed. Offerings can be real food or symbolic food carved directly on the table such as bread, beer, chicken, beef, etc. Currently, fake doors are one of the unique architectural features of the ancient Egyptians that are interested and studied. Although many fake doors still exist in the mausoleum grounds, there are a few that have been removed and displayed in different museums around the world. Fake door outside Egypt Egypt is not the only place where strange fake doors can be found. In 1996, tour guide Jose Luis Delgado Mamani accidentally discovered a stone gate 7m high, 2m wide in the mountains of Hayu Marca, about 35 km from the Peruvian city of Puno. It was named the “Gate of Gods”, or “Gate of the Gods”. According to legend, anyone who walks through the Gate of God will become immortal. The native Indians believe that the great heroes of the past passed through this gate to enter the land of the gods and enjoy eternal life. Gate of God in Peru. Photo: Alamy In addition to the Divine Gate in Peru, there are many ancient structures that are said to be portals to other worlds. For example, the Stonehenge stone circle in England; Gate of the Sun in Tiahuanaco, Bolivia; The Star Gate in Sri Lanka, … In January 2018, archaeologists discovered a fake door in a Greek tomb at the Al-Abd archaeological site in Alexandria. Dr Ayman Ashmawy, an expert in Egyptian antiquities, said that the fake door in this case played a role in misleading thieves, making it impossible for them to find the real door of the tomb.

Poblenou is an iconic cemetery in Barcelona (Spain). It was built in the 18th century and especially impressed many visitors by the haunting “Kiss of Death” statue. Photo: Western 61. This intricate sculpture is placed for the tomb of Josep Llaudet Soler, a textile producer. At first glance, the statue looks quite horror with a skeleton holding the dying man. Deeply hidden in it, however, were of greater significance. Photo: Time Out. The statue is inspired by the famous Latin phrase “Memento mori” which means: “Remember the person who will die”. This quote is a symbolic reminder of the immortality of the soul and the afterlife. In this statue, death (represented by a skeleton) is holding the dying man and kissing him. Photo: My Modern Met. The epitaph is engraved with a poem by Jacinto Verdaguer – a famous Catalan poet. On it was written: “My immature heart is thus no longer beating / Blood in my veins has cooled / Strength is gone / Faith was praised when he swooped into the arms of Death. Amen”. Photo: BCN. Until now, many people still argue about who created this statue. Some say it is Jaume Barba – whose name is engraved on the statue. Another opinion says it is the work of Joan Fontbernat. “The statue is a perfect match. Death’s knuckles grabbed the soft flesh of the man reminiscent of life cycle,” commented My Modern Met. Photo: BCN. Poblenou Cemetery has many other beautiful statues carved with tombs. Now, the city has developed a mobile app that helps visitors look up information about Poblenou’s greatest tombs – including the “Kiss of the Dead” statue. Photo: ShBarcelona.

However, have you ever wondered where this huge treasure of knowledge, from drawings, historical books or records of artistic quintessence, is kept? The answer is papyrus. Traces of majestic history, primitive knowledge from one of the first human civilizations recorded on papyrus, passed from generation to generation. Therefore, the papyrus has become a symbol of culture, spirituality and history of ancient Egyptian society, as well as the precious heritage of modern Egypt. Paper roll of papyrus. (Source: UK McClung Museum) Ancient, versatile The papyrus papyrus is one of the oldest known plant species known to mankind and Egypt is considered the origin of this plant. The papyrus grows in the swamps on both sides of the Nile River, relying on the sediments of the Nile to nurture and grow. The oldest recorded record of the appearance of the papyrus tree is that of the Greek historian Herodotus, in 450 BC: “The papyrus grew from the swamps, the body was fine. cut and processed into different products, the lower rhizome is eaten or sold ”. The ancient Egyptians discovered the value of papyrus in everyday life. Not only was the main material in papyrus paper production, papyrus also had many other uses in the daily life of ancient Egyptians. The lower stems and roots can be eaten raw or grilled. One can chew on the papyrus stalk, swallow the water and then spit the pulp like gum. Papyrus is also braided as a rope, fishing net, even a boat or decorative details on a boat. In households, papyrus can be used as firewood for cooking, knitting into everyday items such as bags, corks, bed sheets, carpets, curtains, slippers … In the medical field, dry papyrus ash is used to treat skin diseases (caustic, calluses …) or prevent cold sores from developing. The Papyrus habitat is wetlands along the banks of the Nile. (Source: African Plants – A Photo Guide) Witness of history In ancient Egyptian cosmology, the world was created when the first god stood on a mound emerging from the infinite darkness, indistinguishable between darkness and water. Every year, this mound will emerge from the water with the papyrus. Therefore, the papyrus is the symbol of fertility, rebirth, the germ of creation. In that sacred sense, the ancient Egyptians used papyrus as amulets, funerals, mummies or paintings in temples. Amulets made from the papyrus tree are worn around the neck, sewn on a mummy’s scarf, or placed under the mummy’s head to help the deceased feel as warm as they were alive despite having stepped foot into the afterlife. The paintings on the walls of many tombs show that papyrus was used in ceremonies or funerals. The attendees at the ceremony often carry papyrus stalks as an offering to the gods. There is an opinion that when thinking of Egypt, people immediately think of papyrus. The ancient Egyptians invented papyrus paper for so long, so long that it is impossible to determine the exact time. Much of the history of Egypt and the ancient world came to the modern world through information written on papyrus. The use of papyrus paper from the I Dynasty, 3100 BC is recorded on frescoes in the shape of a scroll, and is also considered an image of a book. So how was papyrus produced by the ancient Egyptians? First, they pulled the papyrus stalk out of the swamp, tied it in bundles and brought it to the processing plant. Then, the stalk is cut into thin slices, soaked in water for several days to soften. Finally, the slices are layered, squeezed out of water and strengthened adhesion. The papyrus is dried, which can be glued to increase length depending on the intended use. The image of the papyrus tree is used as a decorative detail on the boat. (Source: UK McClung Museum). Ancient papyrus is found in many places, but mainly in tombs. During the 1903-1920 excavation at the village of Deir al Medina (the residence of those working for tombs in the Valley of the Kings), in the city of Thebes (now Luxor) by the Italian Egyptologist. Leading Ernesto Schiaparelli, historians found 16 meters of papyrus, known as the “Book of the Dead” on the tomb of the main craftsman Kha and his wife Merit (built around 1386-1349 BC ). This is an ancient Egyptian religious document, another name is “The Book of Light” or “The Letter”, a collection of spells and spells recorded to help the soul of the dead to the next world. the other through “Underworld Gate”. The book was written by many priests over a period of 1,000 years. Originally, this book was inscribed in hieroglyphs in pyramid mausoleums and served only to the Pharaohs. However, by the New Kingdom period (1550-1352 BC), this book was copied on papyrus by priests and used for princes, officials, and the upper class. The letter will be read during the mummification process and left in the tomb of the dead. Kha and his wife Merit in front of Death Osiris sitting under a papyrus tree in the Underworld. (Source: UK McClung Museum). Wait for the day “reborn” Today, under the influence of topography, environment and the development of modern settlements on the banks of the Nile, the papyrus tree is almost extinct in Egypt, and as a result, papyrus paper making has gradually faded. one. A small village in Egypt, one of the last to retain the papyrus tradition, is called Al Qaramous (Al Sharqia province). Artist Atef Mohamed Shehata is one of the few artisans in the village who also harvests papyrus and produces papyrus paper. Papyrus seeds are planted and it will take about a year to reach harvestable maturity. After harvest, the tree will regrow in about 1-2 months. Once upon a time, the whole village was covered with papyrus tree, but up to now, the area of ​​this tree is only about 4 hectares. At the end of the finishing process, the papyrus will be sold to other artists in the village, one of which is painter Saied Tarakhan. Finally, paintings on Papyrus paper will be sold at souvenir shops. However, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, causing a significant decrease in the number of tourists, directly affecting the livelihoods of the villagers, who mostly depend on the harvest and sale of papyrus paintings. Tarakhan artist had to leave all of the studio’s painting staff and partially shut down the workshop. However, with the craftsmen Shehata and Tarakhan, papyrus has become a sacred part of life. They will continue to preserve the tradition of papyrus and papyrus painting for many generations to come, with the same hope that this tradition will continue to be restored, more brilliant and true to the meaning of the “rebirth” of the papyrus species. .

Car procession of Egyptian mummies. Photo: Ahramonline. The procession is said to take the audience back to the ancient Egyptian era, when kings and queens were brought to their tombs and the afterlife. The mummies will be transported on the Nile and then accompanied by a carriage. The Ministry of the Interior of Egypt announced it would close some roads and major bridges in Cairo on the evening of April 3 to move the mummies. Completely closes from 18:00 to 20:30 pm on April 3, including the main points of Tu Do Square and Sadat subway station. Final preparations for the relocation parade are being completed. This is considered a rare event in Egyptian history. It is expected that more than 400 TV channels, international press representatives will participate in this event. The National Civilization Museum of Egypt covers an area of ​​about 135,000 square meters with more than 23,235 square meters of exhibition space in the ancient city of Fustat, Cairo and overlooking Lake Ain Al-Sira, near the Giza Pyramids. This will be the place to display more than 50,000 artifacts about Egyptian civilizations from prehistoric times to the present day. The new museum has a unique architecture that simulates images of ancient pyramids and will be a work not to be missed when visiting Egypt.

Dr. Duncan MacDougall and article on his soul weighing experiment. There have been several attempts to verify the existence of the soul, notably experiments by a famous doctor, to find out how much it weighs. Strange experiment Dr. Duncan MacDougall is a wealthy and respected physician in Haverhill (Massachusetts, USA). He has his own clinic and works at a medical facility called the Cullis Consumptives’ Home, which is for end-stage cases. In 1901, he came up with a strange idea, that is to determine whether the soul has or not, and if so, how much weight. MacDougall began experimenting on six patients who had lost hope of being cured. Four people with tuberculosis, one with diabetes and one with an unidentified disease, all of which did not last long in this world. He spent a lot of time recruiting only “patient who died of a debilitating illness, death with little or no muscle movement, because in that case the weight could be kept.” equal to more perfect and any loss that happens is ready to be noted ”. To make sure there were no mistakes, he meticulously measured a person’s weight before death, even noting slight changes in sweat and urine output. When the patients are dying, their entire beds are placed on an industrial-sized Fairbanks scale, with a sensitivity of 5.6 g. Along with four other doctors, MacDougall carefully recorded the weight changes of patients before and after their deaths. For the first patient, the weight loss observed immediately after apnea was 21g. A piece in the New York Times on March 11, 1907 recorded this moment: “When life ended, the weight of the needle suddenly dropped, as if something had just separated from the body. Immediately the usual post-mortem mass losses were calculated, but still 21 g was missing. According to MacDougall, this weight loss is not possible from the evaporation of moisture and sweat through the inhalation. The amount of air in his lungs was not the reason he brought air back to the patient’s body but the needle on the scale remained the same. Wastes or urine, if released, remain in bed and can only affect weight by slowly evaporating. MacDougall thinks this is an extremely promising development, and he does a similar procedure with the rest of the patient but the results are not the same. In the third patient there was a strange change that body mass did not change immediately after death but a minute later, body weight was reduced by 21g. The team only measured results from 4 patients, 2 of whom died before they could install the device. He then repeated his experiments with 15 dogs and found that they had no change in weight at the time of death. This was completely consistent with his belief that dogs had no soul. Later, a physics teacher at the Los Angeles Polytechnic School, USA also tried to conduct a similar experiment on mice in 1917. The results were consistent with the experiment of Dr. MacDougall, there was no deviation of weight when the rats died. How real? The scale used to weigh the soul. MacDougall’s research has caused a stir through articles in The New York Times, Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research and American Medicine. Many see this as evidence of the existence of the human soul, but others disagree. The limitation of the experimental subject has been criticized, while his methods are considered unscientific. For the general scientific community, the experiment has many shortcomings and has no real value. Some scientists point out that at the time of death, the lungs stop cooling the blood, causing the body temperature to rise slightly, the skin sweating – 21g in Dr. MacDougall’s experiment. At the same time, dogs do not have sweat glands, so they do not lose weight in this way after death. Despite these harsh criticisms, MacDougall defended his position, even conducting an experiment to photograph the human soul in 1911, but to no avail. After that, he almost fell into darkness, giving up experiments that proved humans have a soul, finally dying in 1920. There were also a few people who performed similar experiments over the years on animals, but MacDougal’s human experiments have never been tried or replicated since then. Does your research have any meaning? Regardless of the answer, the existence of the soul is not scientifically proven, and we will certainly never stop searching to answer one of the most important mysteries of existence. our own. Either way, the work of MacDougall still makes an interesting impression, not because of what he found (or failed to find) but because of what he “suggested” from his experiment. For many people, MacDougall’s ideas deserve to be studied and seriously discussed.

Accordingly, scientists have studied and analyzed two of the 15 ancient tombs discovered in the 1920s on the Valsgärde farm, suburban Uppsala city, central Sweden. Specifically, two ancient tombs are the resting places of two warriors from the 7th century. They are buried in boats with protective helmets, shields and weapons elaborately decorated, even pieces of puzzle pieces. play. The boats carrying the remains of two warriors have a length of more than 9m each, with 4-5 pairs of paddles. Warrior Helmets … and elaborately decorated weapon found in ancient tombs. The remains of the two warriors are placed on a smooth cushion, stuffed with feathers of a variety of birds. Researchers believe that the ancients prepared these items in the hope that the deceased’s journey to the underworld would be easier. Microscopic analysis showed that feathers in cover cover were obtained from geese, ducks, grouse, crows, sparrows, wading birds (swamp birds) and even eagle owls. More strangely, in one tomb, there was an Asian-European wild owl whose head was cut off. Horse bones and other animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, snow owls, black grouse, ducks, geese and northern pike) were also found near the boat when they were buried about 1,400 years ago. There are also artifacts related to animals, including 20 horseshoes, a saddle, four reins, and 4-5 dog leashes. “The warriors seem to be equipped to row into the afterlife, while also being able to land with the help of horses. We guess the choice of feather stuffed with blankets could have a deeper, more symbolic meaning, ”said Professor Birgitta Berglund of the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim, Norway. Feather used as a blanket for the dead Various animals and related artifacts were buried with boats. According to Nordic folklore, feathers stuffed in a blanket for the dying person are very important. Professor Berglund explained that the ancients believed that using feathers, owls, birds of prey, pigeons, crows and squirrels would help prolong the time of “fighting” with death. “In some parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, goose feathers are considered the best item to help the soul escape from the body,” he points out. The soft feathers in the Valsgärde tombs, the oldest known to be found in the Scandinavian Peninsula, show that the two warriors were among the highest classes of Iron Age society here. The wealthy Greeks and Romans had been lying in bed for the past hundred years, said Berglund, but that the rich in Europe probably did not use it widely until the Middle Ages. Berglund believes that the beheaded owl has implications for burial rituals. According to the researchers, keeping birds of prey like eagle owls has long been a status symbol. “Maybe the owl’s head was cut off to prevent it from coming back,” the professor referred to the swords that were bent in front of the Viking-era tomb to prevent the dead from using weapons if they returned from the realms. died. The dead warriors are well equipped for their journey to the afterlife. Valsgärde was excavated in 1928 by archaeologists from the University Museum of Uppsala today. Here discovered more than 90 tombs from the Iron Age, of which 15 tombs of warriors were buried in the form of boats from the end of the Iron Age (AD 570–1030). The two graves that are the focus of a new study called Valsgärde 7 and 8, both date to the 7th century. According to Professor Berglund, Valsgärde 7 was unearthed in 1933, while Valsgärde 8 was unearthed. in 1936. Besides revealing the Iron Age burial ceremony, the new study also identified feathers as buffers for warriors who were imported or obtained from local birds. If it is imported feathers, this will open up the assumption about a certain historical trade route. Making feather materials is time consuming and challenging for many reasons, said study co-author Jørgen Rosvold, from the Norwegian Institute of Natural History (NINA). “I am still amazed at how well preserved the feathers are despite the fact that they have been lying underground for more than 1,000 years,” he said. The study results showed that the feathers were obtained from different local birds, not through the import route. “The feathers provide new perspectives on the relationship between humans and birds in the past. Archaeological excavations have rarely found traces of birds other than those used for food, ”concluded Mr Berglund.