A restoration project at Egypt’s Edfu temple has brought back to light the original colors of the monument’s interior carvings.
Edfu was one of the temples built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom, located on the west bank of the Nile in Edfu, Upper Egypt.
Construction was begun during the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes (246 – 222 BC) and completed in 57 BC. under Ptolemy XII Auletes.
Dedicated to Horus, the temple features some of the most beautiful inscriptions and carvings on its interior walls, providing Egyptologists with valuable information about language, mythology and religion during the Hellenistic period. HeritageDaily.
One of the temples built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom
Following the persecution of the pagans by Theodosius I and his edict of 391 AD. of the prohibition of non-Christian worship throughout the territory of the Roman Empire, the Temple of Edfu fell into disuse as a religious monument.
In addition, some of the carved reliefs were torn down by followers of the Christian faith.
As part of a joint archaeological mission between the Supreme Council of Archeology and the German University of Würtsburg, archaeologists have restored many of the sculptures to reveal the painted colors in their original state.
Some of the carved reliefs were torn down by followers of the Christian faith
The project to restore the ceiling and walls of the temple’s holy sanctuary also revealed colorful landscapes and the writings of priests in demotic calligraphy.
Traces of gold, used in the carvings of royal jewels and insignia, as well as the bodies of the gods of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon, have also been observed.
“The team removed dirt stuck to the surfaces, bird droppings, soil and snails, as well as the accumulation of salts, which resulted in the appearance of residues of the original colors covering all the prominent sculptures,” explained Ahmed Abdul Nabi, project supervisor.
The greatest astronomical observatory of the ancient Egyptians
Recently, an Egyptian mission coordinated by the Supreme Council of Antiquities also discovered what may be the first and largest known astronomical observatory in Egypt in the 6th century BC
The discovery was made at the Buto Temple, at the Tell El-Fara’ archaeological site in Kafr el-Sheikh governorate. The observatory was built of adobe and was an important center for the study of astronomical phenomena. It was also used to track the movements of the Sun, Moon, and stars. Also, the astronomical observatory played an important role in setting the dates for official ceremonies and religious festivals, such as coronations and the beginning of the agricultural year.
“It shows the advanced astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, including their ability to establish the solar calendar and important religious and agricultural dates,” said Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, according to ArcheologyMag.
How did the Egyptians use astronomy?
The observatory’s architectural style, as well as artifacts found at the site, demonstrate how the Egyptians used astronomy to align their religious practices with celestial events.
The observatory is an imposing structure covering approximately 850 square meters. Archaeologists found an L-shaped central corridor built of adobe, resembling entrances to ancient Egyptian temples. The entrance is oriented to the East, thus allowing the Sun to illuminate the interior during certain times of the year, which once again demonstrates the purpose of the building, namely astronomical observations. In this corridor, archaeologists also discovered a stone platform engraved with astronomical elements such as sunrise and sunset.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
