Archaeologists discover 2,000-year-old temple entrance in Egypt

The entrance is believed to have led to an iconic site in Egyptian history, the “Great Temple of Athribis.

The discovery was made by a team from the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities and Germany’s University of Tübingen.

The excavation, located near the Nile River and seven kilometres from Sohag, also revealed a southern chamber that dates back to 144 BC to 138 AD.

British archaeologists had partially uncovered this chamber in the early 1900s, but the full structure was unknown until now.

Researchers have suggested that the temple may have been dedicated to Min, one of Egypt’s oldest gods, who was associated with kingship and fertility.

Wall carvings in the northern tower of the entrance show Min making offerings to his wife, Repyt, and their son, Kolanthes.

Hieroglyphic inscriptions also suggest that Ptolemy VIII, a pharaoh of the Lagid dynasty, may have ordered the construction of the tower and possibly the temple.

Archaeologists hope further excavations will uncover more details about this historic site and its connection to Egypt’s rich past.