When archaeologists unearthed a massive black granite sarcophagus in Alexandria, Egypt, in 2018, it immediately captured global attention. Weighing nearly thirty tons and buried over sixteen feet underground, the coffin had been sealed for more than two thousand years. Its dark, unmarked surface and enormous size made it both mysterious and unsettling. When finally opened, a foul stench escaped, revealing three skeletons floating in a red-brown liquid. The grisly sight sparked wild speculation online—some joked it was “mummy juice,” while others feared a curse. Scientists later confirmed the liquid was a mix of sewage water and decomposed remains.
Dating to Egypt’s Ptolemaic era, the sarcophagus remained puzzling: no hieroglyphs, no names, no offerings. One skull bore a fatal wound; another had traces of gold leaf. Theories range from disgraced soldiers to secret political burials. Officials later confirmed it was moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum for study, but its mystery endures. Even now, the identities of the three men—and the purpose behind their silent, nameless tomb—remain lost to history.
