Discovered the sword of Ramses II
In addition to the long sword of the famous Egyptian pharaoh, other weapons, carnelian and faience beads, scarabs, and protective amulets have been found.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Thursday the discovery of a group of brick buildings that served as military barracks and warehouses for weapons and food during the New Kingdom era, a period during which some of the most popular pharaohs in Egyptian history reigned: Ahmose, Akhenaten, and Ramses II. The discovery was made during ongoing excavations at the Tal Al-Aqbain archaeological site, located in the town of Hoch Essa, part of Egypt’s Beheira Governorate. This administrative unit is situated in northern Egypt, in the western part of the Nile Delta.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, explained that the discovery of these buildings “highlights the historical and archaeological significance of the Al-Abqain fortress,” a military post of the ancient Egyptian army that helped protect the country’s northwestern coast from Libyan tribes and the so-called Sea Peoples, an ancient confederation of naval raiders.
Additionally, the buildings are divided into two identical groups, separated by a small corridor. Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector of the Council, revealed that preliminary investigations of the artifacts and objects found at the site suggest that some of the buildings were used as warehouses, from which supplies were distributed to Egyptian soldiers.
The Sword of Ramses II and Other Artifacts
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, granaries, ceramic jars, and fragments of cylindrical clay ovens, used for baking food, were found inside these warehouses.
Among these discoveries, the most prominent is a long bronze sword decorated with the seal of Pharaoh Ramses II, along with other weapons, carnelian and faience beads, scarabs, and protective amulets. These artifacts will provide researchers with insights into the religious beliefs and activities of the soldiers who lived in the fortress.
The burial of a cow, an animal worshipped as a deity in Egyptian culture, was also discovered, as well as two limestone blocks: one bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions of Pharaoh Ramses II’s titles and the other belonging to an official named Bey.
