Egypt Unearths Ptolemaic Temple Facade in sohag's Athribis

An archaeological discovery has been made in Sohag’s Athribis region, where a joint Egyptian-German mission uncovered a complete façade of a Ptolemaic temple.

This significant find was made during ongoing excavations west of the Great Temple of Athribis, conducted by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Tübingen.

The uncovered façade measures an impressive 51 meters wide, consisting of two massive towers, each 24 meters in width, separated by a central entrance gate. Preliminary studies suggest the original height of the towers could have reached 18 meters, rivaling the dimensions of the iconic pylon at Luxor Temple.

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the importance of this discovery, noting that it is the first step in revealing the full extent of the temple. He confirmed that future excavation seasons will aim to uncover the temple entirely, with continued support from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities under Minister Sherif Fathy’s directive to provide resources and remove obstacles for archaeological missions.

Cleaning and studying the main gate revealed intricate hieroglyphic inscriptions decorating the façade and interior walls. These include depictions of King Ptolemy VIII, likely the temple’s founder, receiving the lion-headed goddess Repyt, the deity of Athribis, alongside her child god, Kolanthes. Further inscriptions suggest the presence of cartouches bearing the name of Queen Cleopatra III, Ptolemy VIII’s wife.

Additional discoveries include a richly decorated southern chamber, partially revealed in early 20th-century excavations led by British archaeologist Flinders Petrie. This chamber features scenes of Repyt and Min, the fertility god, surrounded by celestial deities symbolizing stars used to measure night hours.

Dr. Markus Müller, the German director of excavations, announced the discovery of a previously unknown room accessible via a hidden staircase. The staircase, with four remaining steps, is believed to have led to an upper floor destroyed in 752 AD.