HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / MOVIES

'Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb': Netflix's Egyptian documentary is 'most wholesome' show fans have seen this year

'You ever just watch your fellow archaeologists find such amazing things and just have the biggest swell of happiness and pride for them?' wrote a viewer

Netflix's latest documentary, 'Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb' is a refreshing watch in these times. The documentary follows a team of Egyptian archaeologists as they excavate never-before explored passageways, shafts and tombs, piecing together the secrets of Egypt's most significant find in almost 50 years. The central mystery of the documentary is Wahtye, an ancient Egyptian priest who served under King Neferirkare Kakai during the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt.

The inscriptions and findings within Wahtye's extravagant tomb are more than enough to captivate us, the documentary also features a few of the digs that are happening outside Wahtye's tomb. With a thorough study of the hieroglyphs, objects, and mummies found within the tomb, the team of experts pieces together a compelling story about Wahtye and his family. In fact, if the theory posited in the documentary can be proven, it would be the first documented case of malaria in history by over a thousand years.

There is the worry of the dig's budget running out as the team tries to come across significant finds as the season ends before Ramadan 2019 and by the end of it, as the budget runs out and the team is forced to wrap up operations, they come across another surprising find, signaling that the necropolis at the ancient Saqqara burial grounds holds many more secrets to how ancient Egyptians lived over 3000 years ago.

Unexpectedly, 'Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb' is an emotional watch and fans have felt the same. One fan tweeted, "Somehow watching people pull cat mummies out of a tomb is the most wholesome thing I've seen this year #SecretsOfTheSaqqaraTomb." Another wrote, "Watching #SecretsOfTheSaqqaraTomb on Netflix. You ever just watch your fellow archaeologists find such amazing things and just have the biggest swell of happiness and pride for them?"

A viewer shared, "What a joy, what an amazing piece of programming. THIS is how you show history and archeology on TV. In amongst it all, showing the discoveries. The emotion, the joy of discovery. congratulations to @jamestovell and all involved. #Egypt #SecretsOfTheSaqqaraTomb."

Another wrote, "Watching Secrets of Saqqara on Netflix and it's a beautifully done; there's a quiet sense of wonderment and reverence for the story. Reminds me of the documentaries of old that captivated me as a child." A viewer tweeted, "It’s amazing how we’ll always be connected to civilizations, that perished before us, by human emotions. #SecretsOfTheSaqqaraTomb."

'Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb' is now streaming on Netflix.