THE BLACK SARCOPHAGUS

Archaeologists with Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities prepare to open the black granite sarcophagus. (Image credit: Courtesy Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities. )

The sarcophagus, which is nearly 9 feet long, 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall (2.7 by 1.5 by 1.8 meters) — the largest found in Alexandria — was discovered with a thick layer of mortar.