A team of archaeologists from the University of Tübingen (Germany) and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities discovered a remarkably well-preserved Ptolemaic temple, more than two millennia old, in the small Egyptian village nearby. Sohag, about 200 kilometers north of Luxor.
The Egyptian-German mission which has been working in the area for several years, was excavating in the ancient Egyptian city of Athribiswhen they discovered the pylon, a construction in the shape of a truncated pyramid, like thick walls, which frames a main entrance door. It measures 51 meters wide and was originally 18 meters high, and has two towers, each 24 meters wide.
According to the researchersthis monumental structure is comparable in scale to the emblematic pylon of the Luxor Templeone of the most famous ancient Egyptian temple complexes.
The temple is decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions and intricate carvings, depicting scenes of a Ptolemaic king presenting offerings to the lion-headed goddess Repythis wife, god of fertility Minand his infant divinity, his son, the child-god Colantheswhich were fundamental to the religious practices of Athribis.
Credit: University of Tübingen.
Historians believe that the temple dates back to the reign of Ptolemy VIIIwho ruled during the Ptolemaic dynasty from 170 to 116 BC. He was known for his complex political career and controversial government. Ancient Greek texts describe him as cruel and highlight the military rivalry he had with his older brothers, but they also recognize him as one of the wisest politicians.
The temple is further distinguished by possible references to the queen Cleopatra III in the registrations.
An unknown camera
In the northern tower of the pylon, he unexpectedly encountered a previously unknown chamber.
By removing a block of roof weighing around 20 tonnes, the research team discovered the chamber which measures around six meters long and almost three meters wide. It was a storehouse for temple utensils and was later used to store amphorae. A coin discovered on the site made it possible to date the stone extracted around the year 752 AD. c.
Thanks to the pylon, the room is accessed through a corridor, so it is also accessible from the outside.
Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Beautifully decorated
This entrance is also decorated with reliefs and hieroglyphs: here again we see the goddess Repyt, while in the frame of the opposite door we see the god of fertility Min, who is accompanied by two very little represented beings: Deans or stars that allow time to be measured at nightrarely shown. The elders have humanoid bodies with animal heads; In this case, one has the head of a falcon and the other that of an ibis.
The Ptolemaic dynasty consisted of Macedonian Greek rulers who controlled Egypt for almost 300 years, starting in 305 BC. C. until 30 BC. C. Its dissolution marked the end of Hellenistic Egypt, before the reign of the Romans.
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