Exclusive: Zahi Hawass Reveals Lost "Golden City" Discovery Details

Reporting from Luxor: Nawal Sayed& Ali Abo Dashish

Renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass revealed on Saturday in exclusive statements to SEE News the full details of the lately discovered golden city, the "Rise of Aten" nearby Habu Temple, Luxor.

Hawass reviewed the unearthed artifacts in the city that include a number of daily-life tools and pots. He asserted that this discovery reflected real life in Luxor during the time of ancient Egypt.

Moreover, a dried fish from thousands of years was discovered, alongside a number of potteries, contracts, seals, necklaces, and at least 10 kilograms of salted meat.

Regarding naming it as the "Golden City," he explained that the "Rise of Aten" was founded during the Golden Age in Ancient Egypt, while it was called the lost because no archaeologist could imagine unearthing it.

The Egyptologist added that the city dated back to King Amenhotep III and it witnessed the reign of King Tutankhamun, and King Ay, 3000 years ago.

Furthermore, the city was an administrative, industrial, and residential settlement. It consisted of a series of real houses describing Ancient Egyptians' daily life.

Also, it is considered the largest unveiled archaeological city until now. Life inside the walls of the city lasted for 37 years old.

Hawass highlighted that Aten's city workers and artists left behind dozens of necklaces decorated with gems, shoes, clothes, and a huge meat storage spot for celebrating with the third Heb Sed festival during King Amenhotep III reign.

Next, he praised the efforts of the Egyptian archaeological mission after granting the world a new unique archaeological discovery.

He asserted that he gave care for enhancing and improving the talents of the Egyptian archaeologists to be responsible for mastering the arts of archaeology since handling the responsibility of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General back in 2002.

The leading Egyptologist underscored the outstanding performance and the high capability of the Egyptian archaeological schools.

After that, he referred to the Egyptian archaeological missions headed by Dr. Mostafa Wazziri that managed in unveiling several impressive discoveries.

He added that the mission found the temples of  Horemheb and Ay, alongside unearthing the largest archaeological city in Egypt.

A large tomb was discovered followed by finding a large cemetery consisted a group of stone-carved tombs of different sizes which are connected by a stone stair.

Therefore, the mission expected unearthing new tombs that never opened that still carry their treasures.

Shortly, he underlined that the continued excavations can reveal more secrets regarding the city, and reaching new data that can change the ways of the history such as deeper understanding for the Ancient Egyptian culture, discovering the architectural trends at that time, and learning the ways of using the tools they made.

Only a third of the city was revealed that's why the excavation works are still in progress as finding Tutankhamun's Funerary Temple is expected.

Hawass concluded that this was the first time to unveil the secrets of life during the golden era of ancient Egypt.

The archaeological layers have laid untouched for thousands of years, left by the ancient residents as if it were yesterday.