The Helicopter of Abydos
A carving in an Egyptian temple seems to show a helicopter and a jet, 3,000 years early.
What was reported
On a beam in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, a panel of hieroglyphs looks, at a glance, like a helicopter, a submarine and a jet aircraft. Photographs of it spread widely in the 1990s as proof of ancient advanced technology.
The temple was built by Seti I and finished by his son Ramesses II, around 1290 to 1270 BC.
Explanations offered
Egyptologists explain it as a recarving: Seti I's titles were filled in with plaster and carved over with Ramesses II's. As the plaster fell away, the two sets of signs overlapped, making shapes that resemble machines. Some popular photos were also retouched to strengthen the effect.
- When
- Carved around 1290 BC
- Where
- Temple of Seti I, Abydos, Egypt
- Witnesses
- Visitors to the temple
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.