The Devil in the Catacomb

Under the city of Alexandria, Egypt there's an ancient catacomb called Kom El Shoqafa. It's a web of underground tunnels and is the largest Roman burial site in all of Egypt. And, since it is a Roman burial site in Egypt, it has lots of the Egyptian art that you normally think of when you think "Egypt." This is really exciting for me because this is the first tomb I've entered since arriving in Egypt. While I spent most of my first week hanging around Cairo, I hadn't yet entered a tomb. I'm thrilled. I've been imagining this since I was a little girl and it feels like the adventure is really starting!

We descend down a stone staircase going deep underground until we reach the beginning of the tunnels. The tunnel floors are rough and muddy but covered in planks for you to walk across. We head down the planked walkways. The excitement builds as we weave in and out of rooms covered with grooves for storing coffins. We keep walking - through a rotunda, a banquet hall, and finally journeying through the vestibule into the burial chamber.

Finally, here's what we came to see. A burial chamber containing three sarcophagi covered in ancient Egyptian funerary art. It's thrilling!

A statue off to the side of one sarcophagus catches my eye. It was weird and a little out of place since most of the stuff was Egyptian style and this was definitely Greco-Roman but wearing Egyptian garb. It had eyes that looked right through me. To be honest, it was kind of an ugly statue. In the dim light, deep underground, it reminded me of something out of "The Exorcist." Like I was in that scene from the beginning of the movie.

It kind of creeped me out. One, because it didn't feel like it belonged there. Two, because it was ugly. And three, because it looked sort of demonic.

I can't stop looking at it because it's so creepy in this setting. Then, just as I am looking right into its dead eyes, boom - just like that - the lights go out. The catacomb is entirely devoid of all natural light. I can't see my hands in front of my face. I knew this statue wasn't right. It really is possessed by a demon. It's like a horrific movie. I'm trapped. I don't know how to get out of here! We traveled so far down to get here. It's absolute darkness.

Not to mention, the devil is in here somewhere. Waiting to pounce. Don't let me be like Reagan. I start groping around looking for Meg trying to think of a game plan.

Then, the lights come back on.

Phew....that was the longest 45 seconds of my life! Given the circumstances, I think I kept my cool.