The joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission, a collaboration between Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Tübingen, has unveiled an extraordinary find in Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt. The team successfully unearthed a complete Ptolemaic temple located on the western side of the Great Temple of Athribis. This remarkable discovery sheds light on the architectural grandeur of the Ptolemaic period and deepens our understanding of ancient Egyptian history.
A Gateway to the Past
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the significance of the discovery. The temple’s fully excavated façade measures an impressive 51 meters in width and features two towers, each 24 meters wide, separated by a central gateway. The architectural style suggests the original height of the temple may have reached 18 meters, drawing comparisons to the monumental temple of Karnak in Luxor.
Khaled assured continued support for the mission to uncover the temple’s remaining mysteries, reflecting Egypt’s commitment to preserving its rich heritage.
Hieroglyphs and Deities Revealed
As the mission cleaned the temple’s central gateway, they uncovered hieroglyphic texts and intricate scenes. These depict King Ptolemy VIII in the presence of the goddess Repyt, represented with a lioness head, and her son. The cartouches discovered at the entrance and inner walls point to King Ptolemy VIII as the temple’s founder, with possible mentions of Queen Cleopatra III among the texts.
Excavating Hidden Chambers
Christian Leitz, the head of the mission’s German side, reported the excavation of a southern chamber, partially explored by British archaeologist Petrie in the early 20th century. This chamber features hieroglyphic texts and scenes of the goddess Repyt and the fertility god Min, accompanied by celestial deities symbolizing the night sky.
Another exciting discovery was a previously unknown room accessed by a staircase. Although the upper floor it led to was destroyed in 752 AD, the staircase’s four preserved steps hint at the temple’s original grandeur.
A Decade of Discovery
The Egyptian-German mission has been active in Athribis for over a decade. Their efforts have led to the full excavation of the Great Temple of Athribis and the recovery of over 30,000 ostraca inscribed with Demotic, Coptic, and Hieratic texts, along with numerous other archaeological treasures.
As excavation efforts continue, this latest find highlights the enduring collaboration between Egypt and Germany in unearthing and preserving ancient wonders.
