Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Temples

Archaeologists from the University of Tübingen have reported a major discovery: they have found the supposed entrance to a large stone temple in the ancient Egyptian city of Athribis, which was located near modern-day Sohag. The site preserves the southern tower of the pylon and a hill behind it, which the researchers believe conceals a sanctuary.

"We assume that the entrance to the rock temple is located under piles of rubble that remain untouched for now," said Professor Christian Leitz and Associate Professor Markus Müller. Since 2022, they have been working in Athribis with an Egyptian archaeological team led by Mohamed Abdelbadiah, trying to reconstruct the history of the ancient temple.

Excavations at Athribis began in 2012, when a temple complex dating back to 144-138 BC, during the reign of Ptolemy VIII, was discovered. The majestic complex was 51 meters wide, and the height of the monumental entrance towers originally reached 18 meters. However, over time, much of the structure was damaged by quarrying, and now only about 5 meters of the height remain.

Ancient finds such as coins date the destruction of the temple complex to around 752 CE or soon after. Surviving reliefs include images of the king making sacrifices to the lion-headed goddess Repyt and her son Kolanthus. New hieroglyphic inscriptions indicate for the first time that Ptolemy VIII was responsible for the decoration and construction of the pylon.

Archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown chamber on the northern tower of the pylon. To open it, they had to remove a 20-ton ceiling slab using air cushions, wooden scaffolding, and rollers. Inside was a room 6 meters long and almost 3 meters wide. It was originally used as a storage room for temple utensils, and later for amphorae. From this chamber, a corridor leads through the pylon into the room, providing access from both inside and outside the temple.

The façade of the pylon is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the goddess Repit and the god of fertility Min. Next to them are rare images of two decans-star spirits with the heads of a falcon and an ibis. The researchers were particularly interested in the second door on the pylon's facade. It leads to a staircase that goes up several flights. According to archaeologists, there could have been additional storage facilities on the destroyed upper floor.

Well-preserved limestone blocks with polished surfaces and decoration typical of the upper parts of temples, such as a frieze depicting a cobra, suggest that they belonged to a rock sanctuary. It is possible that these blocks concealed the entrance to the sanctuary.

These findings provide new insights into the architecture and function of Egyptian temples. The inscriptions, images of rare deities, and unusual architectural elements such as hidden chambers and staircases make Athribis a unique place to study. Archaeologists are continuing their work to uncover all the secrets of this ancient temple.

- Pravda.ru