Egypt Unearths Greek-Roman Era Senate Building in Sinai

An Egyptian archaeological mission unearthed on Wednesday a Greek-Roman huge building made of red brick and limestone in North Sinai, the Antiquities Ministry said in a statement.

"The Senate Council used the building as its headquarters," said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

He added that the initial studies conducted on the architectural planning and the construction of the building indicated that it was used to hold meetings for the citizens' representatives during the rule of the Ptolemies and Romans for taking important decisions about the public affairs of the city and its citizens.

Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, said the 2,500-square-meter building shaped from outside as a rectangular; it had circular terraces and a main gate located in the eastern side.

He pointed out that the interior design of the building consists of the remains of three 60 cm-thick circular benches built of red brick and covered with marble.

"The mission also uncovered the main streets of Pelusium city," Ashmawy added.

On his part, Dr. Hisham Hussein, director director-general of North Sinai antiquities, explained that during the fifth and sixth century AD, the building was used as a quarry where the stones, bricks and columns were extracted from their original places for use in the construction of other buildings in the city.

Translated by Hassanain Tayea