Egyptian Team Discovers Roman Temple in Western Desert

The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the site of Haj Ali, which is 350 meters from Gebel Al-Mawta (Mountain of the dead), in Siwa oasis successes to discover a Roman temple dated back to the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D)

Dr. Aiman Ashmawi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities department, said “The discovered temple of huge limestone foundations in rectangular shape measured 40 meters from north to south and 8.5 meters from east to west. The entrance is in the northern side with small two rooms on each side.

The entrance leads to a courtyard of 25 meters in length then another room leads to the sanctuary. The temple surrounded by enclosure wall measures 71 meters by 56 meters.”

Abd El-Aziz Demiry, General Director of Matrouh and Siwa Antiquities, said “One of the most important discovered parts is a limestone block with inscriptions in Greek topped with a ledge shows the sun disc surrounded with cobras.

The inscriptions helped in defining the name of the emperor. The block measures 5 meters by 1 meter and found in 3 parts.”

Mr. Demiry also added that the block is in good condition and it was transferred to the storeroom in Siwa to conduct the necessary preservation needed.  

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #Siwa #Oasis #RomanTemple #Discovery #EmperorPius

Egyptian Archaeologists discover Greaco-Roman temple in Siwa Oasis

The Egyptian archaeological mission of the Ministry of Antiquities uncovered the remains of a Greaco-Roman Temple during excavations at Al-Salam archaeological site located about 50 km east of Siwa Oasis.

Dr. Ayman Ashmawi, Head of Egyptian Antiquities sector at the Ministry of Antiquities said that the mission uncovered the front part of the temple as well as parts of the temple’s foundations, main entrance and remains of its one meter deep enclosure wall.

The wall leads to a front courtyard and on its both sides found entrances to other chambers. 

Dr. Ashmawi expects to uncover the other remains of the temple with more excavations to be carried out this year.

Dr Abdel Aziz El-Demery "Head of the archaeological mission" said that during the removal of the debris from the site, the mission has found many of the stones and architectural elements of the temple’s walls, including the upper lintels decorated with scenes as well as parts of corner pillars decorated with egg, arrow and tongue, which were well known in the Greco-Roman era. 

Dr. El-Demery added that the mission discovered also remains of pots, coins, and a statue of a man with Greek facial features, as well as two limestone statues of two lions one of them is headless. 

#Egypt #Archaeology #Siwa #Egyptology #Roman