The Pharaoh With No Name (Yet)

The majestic pyramids of Egypt stand timeless under a clear sky, overlaid with the regal visage of a pharaoh, symbolizing the enduring legacy of ancient civilization

I’m not quite sure why, but Egypt has always had a special place in my heart. When I was a kid, it was one of my favorite subjects to learn about. I watched shows on the Discovery Channel that dove into how the pyramids were built, how pharaohs came to power, and how advanced ancient Egyptian technology was. It felt like a magical world—mystical, powerful, and so far removed from anything modern.

My interest fizzled a bit when my grandma got me a book on Egypt for one of my birthdays. I opened it expecting something ancient and regal, and instead saw photos of tourists in t-shirts and blue jeans standing in front of the pyramids. It shattered the illusion for me. I guess I thought Egypt never aged—that when I finally got to visit, it would still look like the historical re-enactments on TV. Once I realized normal modern people had "polluted" it with their modernness, it didn’t feel as intriguing anymore.

But lately, my fascination has returned with a vengeance. I’ve gotten more interested in archaeology and anthropology in general, and with that, Egypt has crept back into my imagination like a long-lost friend.

So, you can see why my interest was piqued when I saw a recent New York Times headline about the discovery of a new tomb—possibly belonging to an unknown pharaoh—in Egypt. Naturally, I had to read more. (Here’s the article if you want a more detailed, scholarly breakdown of the whole thing.)

Here’s the gist:

The tomb was uncovered in Abydos, one of the oldest and most sacred burial sites in Egypt, about 300 miles south of Cairo. It’s a place deeply tied to royal rituals and early dynastic history—basically, ancient Egypt’s VIP cemetery. A joint team of Egyptian and American archaeologists found the tomb near Mount Anubis, named after the jackal-headed god of death and mummification. The entrance was buried 32 feet underground, hidden beneath centuries of sand and secrecy.

What makes this discovery especially juicy for Egyptologists is its potential link to a

lost dynasty.” That’s right—a whole group of rulers we know practically nothing about. The mystery began back in 2014, when archaeologists discovered a tomb that didn’t match up with any known pharaohs from existing records. It hinted at a break in the historical timeline—something fragmented, undocumented, and incredibly rare. This newly found tomb might finally offer some answers, or at the very least, more pieces to the puzzle.

Researchers believe the individual buried here was a pharaoh or powerful ruler, likely someone whose name and legacy were erased or forgotten over time. The tomb appears to predate Egypt’s 5th Dynasty, placing it more than 4,300 years old. That’s mind-bending. Inside, they found gold-plated relics, pottery shards, and signs that the burial was part of a larger, now-vanished necropolis.

There’s something deeply human about how history hides itself—how time can literally bury entire legacies. And I think that’s what pulls me in. Every discovery like this one feels like a whisper from the past, a reminder that there’s still so much we don’t know.

I’ve also been thinking lately about how much we take for granted in terms of what’s been “figured out” about the world. But here’s a whole civilization that existed for thousands of years, and we’re still uncovering brand-new pharaohs in 2025. It’s humbling. It makes me wonder what else we’ve missed. What other names have been lost? What other stories?

Anyway, if you’re even mildly interested in history or the ancient world, I highly recommend reading more about this discovery. Or just go down a rabbit hole like I did—I promise, Egypt will reel you back in