Cambyses' Army??

[Paralus]

A pair of Italian archaeologists - brothers no less - have "found" Herodotus' army of Cambyseswhich vanished not ever to be seen again. Herodotus claims that some 50,000 men disappeared in the a sandstorm whilst heading west from Egypt in 525 BC. This number, one supposes, says much about the Lybians as it took an army of over 1,700,000 to fail in Greece.

While working in the area, the researchers noticed a half-buried pot and some human remains. Then the brothers spotted something really intriguing -- what could have been a natural shelter.

It was a rock about 35 meters (114.8 feet) long, 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) in height and 3 meters (9.8 feet) deep. Such natural formations occur in the desert, but this large rock was the only one in a large area.

"Its size and shape made it the perfect refuge in a sandstorm," Castiglioni said.

Right there, the metal detector of Egyptian geologist Aly Barakat of Cairo University located relics of ancient warfare: a bronze dagger and several arrow tips.

"We are talking of small items, but they are extremely important as they are the first Achaemenid objects, thus dating to Cambyses' time, which have emerged from the desert sands in a location quite close to Siwa," Castiglioni said.

Methinks I will await further details - particularly of the "Achaemenid objects" and the rationale behind the claims.

[athenas owl]

Saw this yesterday....

I agree much needs to be looked at. Even if the remanins are not part of Cambyses's Army, there is certainly someone's story left to suss out from the remians. Something happened. I'd love to know what and when it was.

Hundreds of bones doesn't actually equal 50,000, though who knows what's under the sands I suppose.

I think the "rationale" for the claims is that they were looking for the lost army..and TaDa! they found something, which may not actually be the lost army, but to their minds, simply must be.

[Semiramis]

Yes, I agree with you guys. There's a lot that happened in that part of the world, so to prove it's an Achaemenid army will need a bit more than Herodotus' story. The rationale doesn't appear too shaky, at this initial stage.

"An analysis of the earring, based on photographs, indicate that it certainly dates to the Achaemenid period. Both the earring and the spheres appear to be made of silver. Indeed a very similar earring, dating to the fifth century B.C., has been found in a dig in Turkey," Andrea Cagnetti, a leading expert of ancient jewelry, told Discovery News.

There's a bracelet to be analyzed as well.

At the end of their expedition, the team decided to investigate Bedouin stories about thousands of white bones that would have emerged decades ago during particular wind conditions in a nearby area.

Indeed, they found a mass grave with hundreds of bleached bones and skulls.

"We learned that the remains had been exposed by tomb robbers and that a beautiful sword which was found among the bones was sold to American tourists," Castiglioni said.

Among the bones, a number of Persian arrow heads and a horse bit, identical to one appearing in a depiction of an ancient Persian horse, emerged.

"In the desolate wilderness of the desert, we have found the most precise location where the tragedy occurred," Del Bufalo said.

The team communicated their finding to the Geological Survey of Egypt and gave the recovered objects to the Egyptian authorities.

"We never heard back. I'm sure that the lost army is buried somewhere around the area we surveyed, perhaps under five meters (16.4 feet) of sand."

If there are more bones buried deeper, there may be more objects to analyze, as these are more likely to have survived the robbers. It looks like there will be more legitimate archeological work in the area in conjunction with the Egyptian authorities. So, hopefully we may even get to see these objects one day.

[athenas owl]

Rougeclassicism is on a tear!

http://rogueclassicism.com/2009/11/13/c ... /#comments

[Semiramis]

Press Release- Alleged Finds in Western Desert

I need to inform the public that recent reports published in newspapers, news agencies and TV news announcing that “twin brothers Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni have unearthed remains of the Persian army of Cambyses,” are unfounded and misleading.

The brothers are not heading any archaeological mission in Berenike Panchrysos at the small Bahrin Oasis near Siwa Oasis. This site has been excavated since 2002 by an Italian mission led by Dr. Paulo Gallo of Turin University. The Castiglioni brothers have not been granted permission by the SCA to excavate in Egypt, so anything they claim to find is not to be believed.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities has already informed the proper legal and security authorities in Egypt and are taking the necessary procedures.

http://www.drhawass.com/

The brothers are starting to look extremely fishy!

[Taphoi]

Don’t start me talking
I could talk all night
They kind of went off walking
Through the desert wastes to fight

Cambyses’ army is here to stay
Cambyses’ army are on their way
But they would rather be anywhere else
Than here today

There were twins Castiglione
They didn’t crack a smile
For it’s no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile

Cambyses’ army is here to stay
Cambyses’ army are on their way
But they would rather be anywhere else
Than here today

But there’s no danger
It's a professional career!
It was long ago arranged
With just a word in Herodotus’ ear

Cambyses’ army is here to stay
Cambyses’ army are on their way
But they would rather be anywhere else
Than here today