- Archaeologists located an ancient Egyptian temple slotted into a cliff face.
- The website—which was probably devoted to a lion-headed fertility deity called Repit—included an impressive entryway.
- Although large portions of the temple have crumbled, the team managed to discover concealed chambers near the primary entrance gateways.
The cliffs of Athribis remain
Egypt
have unveiled an age-old marvel: a concealed shrine.
This recent discovery is part of an continuing excavation led by specialists from the University of Tübingen and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, who have been working on site.
since 2012 on excavations
In the region’s expansive temple quarter, the structure was initially uncovered in 2022, and from then on,
archaeologists
The researchers have meticulously revealed the long-hidden monument along with its associated relics, gaining insights into the recently found stone temple. They now believe that an extensive structure might lie beyond the entryway, concealed beneath undisturbed heaps of debris.
Although merely around 16 feet of the entry pillars still stand today, the temple complex formerly encompassed an extensive area capable of accommodating numerous people.
hidden rooms
And staircases—indicating there might be additional hidden treasures from antiquity. “The smoothly finished limestone blocks set into a vertical rock face may indicate the presence of an ancient rock-cut sanctuary,” stated Christian Leitz, a professor at the Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Tübingen.
Excavations at the northern tower located at the entrance revealed
temple
The district has already showcased a variety of decorations, which include reliefs linked to Ptolemy VIII from the era.
nd
In the imagery from century B.C., a ruler is depicted making offerings to the lion-headed fertility deity Repit and her son Kolanthes. The recently uncovered hieroglyphic inscriptions indicate that Ptolemy VIII may have been the monarch behind the region’s development.
As an unexpected twist, the team has uncovered a hidden chamber within the north tower. To clear a massive 20-ton ceiling stone, they employed an air cushion along with wooden scaffolding and rollers to safely remove the obstruction and reveal what lies inside.
chamber
, which was probably utilized as a storeroom for temple implements and amphora jars.
The chamber connects to the tower pylon through a passageway, allowing exterior access. Within this entry zone, scholars have uncovered numerous additional relief carvings and hieroglyphs, where Repit features prominently in many depictions. Opposite the recently unearthed portrayal of Repit, one can see the fertility deity Min flanked by two seldom-illustrated decan figures.
mythical creatures
are designed to serve as celestial markers for nighttime timekeeping and have anthropomorphic forms with animal heads. In the newly discovered depictions, one decan possesses a falcon head, while the other sports an ibis.
Enhancing the distinctiveness of the
architecture
In this Egyptian temple, the facade of the pylon includes a secondary entrance that leads to an undiscovered staircase. This staircase presumably ascended through at least four levels before reaching the higher story. Despite being ruined today, these elevated areas were probably used for storage spaces in ancient times.
Excavations
They are currently concentrating on uncovering additional details about the temple past its entryway. The ornate columns and decorative elements commonly found at the higher end of temples suggest that there might still be another gateway hidden behind it all.