The joint Egyptian-American archaeological mission between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Colorado in the Al-Ashmunein site in Minya Governorate, has restored and reinstalled the massive granite columns located on the northern side of the Al-Ashmunein Basilica.
In his remarks, Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced the completion of this restoration and shared that the mission also began excavating the religious center of the city, including the Temple of Ramesses II and the Sphinx Gate.
Meanwhile, Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that the mission conducted structural and architectural studies before restoring the basilica's columns and foundations.
They partially disassembled the columns of the main entrance to the basilica, which were suffering from significant damage, in preparation for strengthening, restoration, and reassembly.
Dr. Bassem Jihad, supervisor of the central training unit at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and head of the mission from the Egyptian side, mentioned that the mission studied the reused three-stone stones at the site and recorded their architectural elements.
This shed light on the Ptolemaic temple's foundations and how the basilica was built.
In turn, Dr. Yovona Trnka, head of the mission from the American side, revealed that the mission will continue its work in the coming seasons to restore the entire basilica and uncover more of the temple's foundations.
It's worth noting that the Basilica was constructed during the fifth century AD in tribute to the Virgin Mary, over the remnants of the Ptolemaic Temple.
The ancient city of Ashmunin, also known as Khemnu, was the seat of the Egyptian cult of Thamun.
In the Greco-Roman era, it was recognized as Hermopolis Magna and served as the capital of the fifteenth region and the center of the worship of the god Djehuti.
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