Egyptian Archaeologists Unearth More of Re Temple in Old Heliopolis

The Egyptian archaeological mission of Ain Shams university directed by Dr. Mamdouh ElDamaty successfully discovered two limestone blocks at the northern part at the site of Arab El-Hisn in old Heliopolis, modern Matariya.

Dr. Mamdouh El-Damaty said “The discovered blocks bear the inscriptions of Ramses II’s architect who is called “Amen-Mapet””

The architect was one of most famous architects of Ramses II’s reign and he is the father of architect who overseen the building of Luxor temple. 

Dr. ElDamaty added “The text discovered shows the this architect was the overseer of building of the festival palace and Ramses II chapel which the mission discovered earlier this season. The inscriptions also mention the titles of the architect including “Overseer of all of King Ramses II work” and “Chief of police or Medhay in the south”.

According to Dr. ElDamaty, Architect “Amen-Mapet” overseen the  building of northern stature of Ramses II where the blocks were discovered as well as a limestone wall with an entrance in the middle of it leading to a mud brick floor. 

The wall was separating two court yards behind the statues which not all their features are discovered yet. What was discovered so far reveals an important part of the temple of Re in old Heliopolis and the mission will continue their work in March and April 2019 to reveal more of the site’s architecture elements. 

#Egypt #Archaeology #Egyptology 

German-Egyptian team discovers thousands of fragments in old Heliopolis

The Egyptian-German-Mission at Matariya/Heliopolis, uncovered a collection of 4500 fragments from King Psamtek I colossus discovered last year and now at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.

Dr. Aiman Ashmawy (Head of the ancient Egyptian Antiquities) and head of the mission from the Egyptian side, said that at Souq el-Khamis area in Matariya, the mission succeeded to uncover a collection of 4500 fragments of the quartzite colossus of king Psamtek I. The He explains that these fragments along with those found last season have reached a total number of 6400 fragments which allow the visualization of the original form of the colossus before its destruction in antiquity.

Dr. Ashmawi added that the new fragments confirmed that the colossus depicted a standing king but with the unusual feature of the left arm in front of the body. A very carefully carved scene on the back-pillar shows the kneeling King Psamtek I in front of the creator-god Atum of Heliopolis. The majority of the fragments were found in a pit south of the pedestal of the statue, that have been left open probably during the Fatimid era when the temple walls were dismantled to be used in other buildings. As Dr. Aiman Ashmawy explained, the colossus statue’s fragments will be brought to the Egyptian Museum.

Dr. Dietrich Raue, Head of the German mission said the mission continued its work at the site of the temple of Nektanebo I (380-363 BC). A large number of fragments that belong to a quartzite gate of Ramses II (1279-1213) and Nektanebo I were found. The geophysical survey had indicated a number of areas with a large number of fragments of the former temple.

In this area, according to Dr Raue, some exceptional fragments were found, among them: a frieze of falcons, a part of a gate of Merenptah (1213-1201 BC) as well as parts of a colossal Ramesside sphinx of red granite. It seems evident that Nektanebo I added his building to a major temple of earlier date.

The excavation work in the Ptolemaic workshop area was continued and led to the discovery of new room units of the mid-ptolemaic area. Some fragments point again to the reuse of pharaonic temple equipment of the 2nd and 1st millennium BC. This season’s work included archaeobotanical and archaeozoological studies.

#Egypt #Cairo #Heliopolis #DietrichRaue #LuxorTimes #Nekhtanebo #PsamtikI

Ramesses II colossus discovered in old Heliopolis

The Egyptian-German mission working at Matariya, old Heliopolis, unearthed two Ramesside statues during the ongoing Spring season at Suq el-Khamis temple.

The mission of University of Leipzig in cooperation with Ministry of Antiquities is co-directed by Dr.Aiman Ashmawi and Dr.Dietrich Raue.

The statues are; one of the upper part of a limestone statue of Seti II measures about 80 cm high. 

Seti II cartouche 

 

Seti II upper statue part with inscriptions on the back reads "Mri.(f?)   Di.f snb n (hr).f  mr.f" Also the cartouche of Seti II appears on the shoulder.

The second statue is quartzite probably for Ramesses II. The statue parts were discovered so far doesn't have any inscriptions to indicate who does it belong to but it was discovered in the front of Ramesses II temple gate. The unearthed statue blocs show that it measures approx. 8 meters height including the base.

The discovered statues were submerged a meter deep in underground water.   

This morning, Dr. Khalid El=Enany attended the lifting of the parts of the colossus of Ramses II.

Dr. Khalid El-Enany, Minister of Antiquities, told Luxor Times that the one the statue is completely lifted, it will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) to be included in the museum which is expected to open partially during 2018.

The minister also said that there will be a temporary exhibition at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir very soon to show the antiquities which were discovered recently at the site of Suq el-Khamis.

#Egypt #Cairo #Archaeology #Egyptology #GEM

Evidence of ancient Egyptian temple discovered in Heliopolis

The Egyptian-German mission working in Heliopolis (modern Mataria) successfully discovered new evidences suggest the existence of Nectanebo I of 30th Dynasty in the area of the sun temple.

Dr. Mahmoud Affifi, head of the ancient Egypt department, said "A number of carved stone blocks, sandstone and limestone columns as well as parts of basalt walls bearing inscriptions refer to royal projects in the area dedicated to goddess Hathor."

Dr. Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian part of the team, said "The eastern gate of the temple was discovered showing many inscriptions and ritual scenes and bronze statues of Bastet as well as large stone blocks maybe referring to a location of a temple dated back to the reign of Ramses II"

Dr. Dietrich Raue, head of the mission said "The mission worked this season in the second area of the southern east side of the temple where workshops dated to the 4th century B.C and later layers of Ptolemaic period which corresponds with the previous discoveries that showed a heavy activities of 30th dynasty kings on this area of the sun temple "Oun" in Heliopolis." 

The mission started unearthing parts of chapel, first lower parts then upper parts, limestone blocks of Nectanebo I, now the discoveries continues of the previously unknown temple in this location. 

#Egypt #Cairo #Heliopolis #Egyptology #Archaeology #AncientEgypt #LuxorTimes

For more information on the history of the mission's work on this site, please visit the links below.

http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.com.eg/2015/04/royal-chapel-discovered-in-heliopolis.html?m=1

http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.com.eg/2015/10/royal-chapel-discovered-in-old.html?m=1