Ancient Temple Gate Dedicated to the God of Male Fertility Discovered in Egypt
Archaeologists were left speechless by the mysterious structure of the ancient place of worship, which holds a piece of Ancient Egypt's history.
Since 2012, excavations have been underway to uncover a temple district of Ancient Egypt, built between 144 BCE and 138 CE. Now, archaeologists have discovered a hidden entrance to an Egyptian temple dating back approximately 2,100 years. The gateway, located on the western side of the historic site of Athribis near Sohag (Egypt), originally stood up to 18 meters tall and represents an extraordinary example of an Egyptian "pylon," where two towers flank a central entrance.
The entrance leads to a previously unknown chamber, likely used as a storage area for tools and amphorae—large oval containers with two handles. Additionally, hieroglyphic inscriptions and intricate carvings adorn the exterior facade and interior walls of the chamber. Researchers are confident that the chamber leads to a temple, although further excavations will be needed to confirm this.
“This discovery is particularly significant as it marks the first step in uncovering the remaining elements of the temple,” stated Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in a Facebook post.
The Temple of Athribis Unearthed
Experts believe the structure was built in Athribis, once a thriving Egyptian city, during the 2nd century BCE. At that time, Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, a royal house that governed Ancient Egypt until its incorporation into the Roman Republic in 30 BCE.
The entrance and chamber were discovered by researchers from the University of Tübingen, supported by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the find as “the first core step in unveiling the rest of the elements of the new temple at the site,” according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The chamber, approximately 6 meters long and 3 meters wide, features an entrance adorned with newly discovered reliefs and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The inscriptions depict the Egyptian fertility god Min, his wife Repit—commonly portrayed as a lioness—and their son, the child god Kolanthes. In one inscription, these Egyptian deities are shown receiving offerings from a king, identified by researchers as Ptolemy VIII from the 2nd century BCE. Scholars believe the Temple of Athribis was constructed during the reign of Ptolemy VIII (who died in 116 BCE) as a center of worship for this revered family. Surrounding the figures are structures of astronomical symbols acting as "celestial stars" used to measure the hours of the night.
Meanwhile, a second door on the pylon facade leads to a previously unknown staircase that ascended at least four flights to an upper floor, though it is now destroyed. Further excavations at the Temple of Athribis will focus on uncovering traces of the presumed temple beyond the chamber, likely a place of refuge for the city's inhabitants.
“The mission will complete its work at the site to fully uncover the rest of the temple during the upcoming excavation seasons,” stated the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in its announcement.
The Ptolemaic Dynasty
At its peak, the temple is believed to have spanned 51 meters in width and featured pylon towers, each rising up to 18 meters tall. Today, only about 5 meters of the towers remain, as they fell victim to quarrying, likely in the 8th century CE. Although Athribis was inhabited during later dynasties, the ancient Egyptian city did not achieve significant prominence until the early Ptolemaic reign. The Ptolemaic dynasty was Egypt's last ruling dynasty before it became part of the Roman Republic, which preceded the mighty Roman Empire.
The dynasty was established in 305 BCE after Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquered Egypt in 332 BCE, and one of his generals, Ptolemy, became Ptolemy I. Leadership was passed down through Ptolemy’s descendants and concluded with Cleopatra VII, one of history’s most renowned queens.
Cleopatra VII, known as a seductive figure with a captivating personality, used her charm to ally Egypt with Rome by seducing Julius Caesar. Later, she seduced and married his second-in-command, Mark Antony. When the future Roman Emperor Augustus arrived, Antony, believing Cleopatra to be dead, took his own life in 30 BCE.
After burying him, the 39-year-old Cleopatra ended her life, though the method remains unknown. The ill-fated couple is believed to have been buried together, but their final resting place continues to be a mystery.
