Latest news with #Graeco-Roman
Al-Ahram Weekly
11-07-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New wave of discoveries in Egypt - Heritage - Al-Ahram Weekly
In recent months, Egypt has unveiled a rich array of new discoveries and restorations that span millennia, from the Old Kingdom to the Graeco-Roman era, offering new insights into ancient daily life, religious practices, and architectural ingenuity, reports Nevine El-Aref. These discoveries were carried out by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) alone or in collaboration with international missions. From the vibrant chapels of Luxor's Karnak Temple and newly unearthed tombs in Aswan to the rediscovery of a lost Delta city in Sharqiya, these achievements not only deepen our understanding of Egypt's past but also reinforce the nation's global standing as a cultural and scientific heritage hub. As excavation tools meet ancient stone, Egypt's timeless story continues to unfold, layer by layer. At Karnak's Akh Menu Temple, a major restoration project has unveiled scenes depicted on the walls of the Southern Chapels, a cluster of seven interconnected shrines and two columned halls rich in colourful inscriptions and reliefs dating back to the reign of Thutmose III. This initiative was conducted by the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of the Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the SCA. 'The restoration of the Southern Chapels not only preserves a remarkable part of ancient Egyptian architecture but also enriches the visitor experience by showcasing inscriptions and rituals that have remained hidden for centuries,' said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the SCA, who described the restoration as a 'crucial achievement' that expands access to lesser-known archaeological sites and diversifies Egypt's cultural tourism offerings. The chapels feature vivid depictions of royal rituals, including Heb Sed jubilee celebrations and inscriptions declaring the site a 'Temple of Millions of Years'. The restoration efforts have also enhanced accessibility with ramps and signage, enriching the visitor experience and diversifying Egypt's cultural tourism offerings. Meanwhile, excavations at the Asasif Necropolis on the West Bank at Luxor have revealed undecorated wooden child coffins, ostraca, seals, faience figurines, and architectural remains, offering a more intimate look at the lives of non-elite individuals during the New Kingdom. At Nagaa Abu Asaba near Karnak, archaeologists have unearthed a massive mudbrick enclosure wall stamped with the names of King Menkheperre and his queen, alongside bronze moulds, Osirian figurines, amulets, and a beer-brewing facility. The discovery suggests the site was once an industrial and religious hub, illustrating the sophistication of ancient Theban society. At the Tell Al-Faraon (Tell Nebasha) site in the Sharqiya governorate, a British team from the University of Manchester has uncovered the remains of 'Imet', an ancient city dating back to the fourth century BCE. Multi-storey tower houses, grain storage facilities, and animal shelters paint a vivid portrait of urban life in the Nile Delta during the Late Period and the early Ptolemaic era. Excavation of the temple district has revealed the remnants of a monumental limestone floor and mudbrick columns believed to have formed a sacred procession route to the Temple of the Goddess Wadjet, reconstructed under kings Ramses II and Ahmose II. Among the standout artefacts are a faience ushabti, a bronze sistrum adorned with Hathor heads, and a carved stela of the god Horus on crocodiles, reflecting both everyday life and complex religious beliefs. In Aswan, an Egyptian-Italian mission working at the Qubbet Al-Hawa Necropolis has uncovered three rock-cut tombs from the Old Kingdom, some of which were reused during the Middle Kingdom. Although modest in decoration, the tombs retain false doors, offering tables, pottery, and hieratic inscriptions, providing new perspectives on social hierarchies and funerary evolution across the centuries. Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, emphasised that the discovery expands our knowledge of cultural and economic transitions during the First Intermediate Period and beyond. Meanwhile, in the necropolis surrounding the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan in Aswan, a joint Egyptian-Italian mission from the University of Milan has unearthed several well-preserved Graeco-Roman tombs. The highlight was Tomb 38 housing a two-metre-tall, decorated limestone coffin bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions and the name Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official during the Graeco-Roman period. The tomb contains the mummified remains of adults and children, indicating multi-generational burials. These findings, according to Khaled, reflect complex burial practices that spanned both elite and middle-class individuals and adapted over time, especially during epidemics or economic hardships. Further research will involve CT scanning and the biological analysis of the remains to explore health conditions and demographics. Patrizia Piacentini, head of the archaeological mission, noted that previous discoveries have been made in the same area, including funerary terraces, animal sacrifices, and a possible Ptolemaic-era place of worship, highlighting the site's enduring sacred status. With these discoveries, Egypt continues to offer an inexhaustible trove of archaeological wonders, each a thread in the grand tapestry of a civilisation that shapes our understanding of the past. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
06-07-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Graeco-Roman Tombs With Hieroglyphic Texts Found Near Aga Khan
A joint Egyptian-Italian team discovered Graeco-Roman tombs with intact mummies and hieroglyphics near Aswan's Aga Khan Mausoleum, revealing a hidden layer of Egypt's ancient funerary landscape. Jul 06, 2025 A series of rock-cut tombs dating to the Graeco-Roman period has been discovered near the Aga Khan Mausoleum on Aswan's western bank. Unearthed by a joint Egyptian-Italian mission, the tombs feature preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions and architectural elements rarely seen in later-period burials. Among the finds is Tomb No. 38, situated over two metres underground and accessed by a nine-step staircase once used for funeral offerings. Inside, a two-metre-tall limestone sarcophagus rests on a platform carved from bedrock. Decorated with a human-shaped lid, stylised wig, and hieroglyphs, it names the tomb's owner as Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official, and references his family. Several mummies, including those of children, were also found. The site continues to offer insight into burial customs of different social classes during a time when Egyptian traditions mingled with Greco-Roman influences. The surrounding necropolis has been under study since 2019, with prior seasons revealing additional tombs and platforms carved into the slopes of nearby Sidi Othman mountain. The mission, led by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan, plans further analysis including CT scans and biological studies this autumn to deepen understanding of the individuals buried there.
Al-Ahram Weekly
25-02-2025
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt completes revival of 3,000-year-old gold mining city at Jabal Sukari on Red Sea - Ancient Egypt
The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has completed the revival of the 3,000-year-old gold mining city recently uncovered at Jabal Sukari, southwest of Marsa Alam City in the Red Sea Governorate. This ambitious initiative lasted two years and was carried out in partnership with the Sukari Gold Mine administration. It complied with all relevant legal and administrative protocols, and the Permanent Committee for Ancient Egyptian Antiquities approved it. The project entailed extensive archaeological excavations, documentation, and restoration efforts to safeguard the architectural elements uncovered at the site. To ensure their preservation, the structures were carefully relocated three kilometres north of their original location, beyond the boundaries of the modern mining zone at Sukari Mine. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy expressed his enthusiasm for the discoveries, emphasizing the ministry's dedication to preserving Egypt's cultural heritage while supporting national development and economic progress. "Excavations revealed a 3,000-year-old gold processing complex. The facility featured grinding and crushing stations, filtration and sedimentation basins, and ancient clay furnaces used for smelting the gold extracted from quartz veins," SCA Secretary-General Mohamed Ismail Khaled said. Moreover, archaeologists discovered a residential district once inhabited by gold miners. This district included remains of homes, workshops, temples, administrative buildings, and bathhouses dating back to the Ptolemaic era. Architectural remains from the Roman and Islamic periods were also found, underscoring the site's enduring historical significance. The excavation yielded 628 ostraca inscribed with hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek texts and a collection of Ptolemaic bronze coins. Additional findings included terracotta figurines depicting human and animal forms from the Graeco-Roman period and a collection of stone statuettes representing deities such as Bastet and Harpocrates. Furthermore, archaeologists found five Ptolemaic offering tables, a diverse collection of pottery vessels used for daily life, perfumes, medicines, incense, beads made from semi-precious stones, and decorative items crafted from seashells. 'It is a significant discovery because it expands our understanding of ancient Egyptian mining techniques,' Khaled expressed. He explained that the findings offer invaluable insights into gold miners' social, religious, and economic lives in historical desert settlements. Meanwhile, Egyptian Antiquities Sector head Mohamed Abdel-Badie said: "All the unearthed architectural elements of the city were relocated to a neighbouring location, spanning six kilometres north of the ancient city's original location along six feddans, to preserve the site's historical significance." A visitor centre has also been established. It features large display screens showcasing the excavation process and findings and informational panels detailing the region's historical importance and the artefacts uncovered. Short link:
