Thousands sign petition to drink foul-smelling red liquid found inside 2000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus claiming it's "elixir of life"
Thousands of people have signed a petition to allow them to drink the red liquid which has been found inside a 2,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. Reports state that many people believe that the mysterious liquid found in the casket is an elixir.
The large black granite sarcophagus, which was discovered on a construction site in Alexandria earlier this month, was opened over the weekend with a wooden plank.
The ten foot long, 6.5ft high coffin was found buried 16ft beneath the ground of the city. The Egyptologists present at the site opened the 30-ton sarcophagus to reveal three decomposed bodies inside, covered in red liquid.
Reports state that the experts present at the site had to wear masks over their mouths and nose to block the foul smell emanating from the casket.
Ever since the opening of the sarcophagus -- which many feared would unleash an ancient curse -- speculations about the red liquid inside the coffin being an elixir or red mercury have run amok.
The Egyptian Antiquities Ministry, however, attempted to dial down the rumors by releasing a statement and said that the liquid is neither "juice for mummies that contains an elixir of life" nor is it red mercury but only sewage water, according to reports.
The Ministry also added that the sarcophagus does not belong to any ancient ruler and that the remains found inside are currently undergoing restoration to reveal more about the ancient coffin.
According to a post on the ministry's Facebook page, an archaeologist at the site, Shabaan Abdul, said that the remains most likely belong to three military officials.
The ministry also added that the damage to one of the skulls was likely caused by an arrow, and speculated that the bones may have belonged to military officials.
Despite, the Ministry's claims, several people have suggested that the sarcophagus belongs to the ancient Greek ruler, Alexander the Great. While others had warned of "the curse" which would be unleashed on the world if the casket was opened.
The tongue-in-cheek petition has already garnered nearly 17,000 signatures as of Monday. The goal of the petition is to get 25,000 signatures.
The Change.org petition reads: "We need to drink the red liquid from the cursed dark sarcophagus in the form of some sort of carbonated energy drink so we can assume its powers and finally die."
Several people commented on the petition's page, with one writing: "We deserve the power of the Egyptian elite." White others said: "Who knows what divine powers this juice possesses" and "the red liquid will unlock unlimited power."
Reports state that none of the three mummies in the sarcophagus belong to a Ptolemaic or Roman royal family, as was previously suggested, according to the Daily Mail. The experts reached this conclusion after finding no inscriptions or a cartouche displaying the names of the occupants.
The experts also concluded that the lack of silver or gold metallic masks, statues, amulets or inscriptions also suggested that the inhabitants of the casket were not high status.
Reports state that the mummies will be moved to the Alexandria National Museum, while the sarcophagus is being prepared to be transferred to a military museum.
"As far as I can see, there’s no inscription on the sarcophagus, which is strange. You’re not going to see someone important buried like this," Joseph Manning, a professor of ancient history at Yale University said, according to WHNT News.