Discoveries

May 05, 2022

Lost No More

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Egyptian archaeologists recently discovered the ruins of a temple dedicated to the ancient Greek god Zeus in the Sinai Peninsula, the Associated Press reported.

Known as the Zeus-Kasios temple, the ancient structure was named after the mythological Greek god of the sky and Syria’s Mount Kasios – where he was once worshipped.

The country’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said that the temple was located in the Tell el-Farma archaeological site, an area where excavations have been taking place since the early 20th century.

It added that the site – known by its ancient name Pelusium – dates back to the late Pharaonic period and was also used during the Greco-Roman and Byzantine eras. The spot also houses archaeological remains dating to the Christian and early Islamic periods.

In 1900, French Egyptologist Jean Clédat came across ancient Greek inscriptions revealing the existence of the temple but he never excavated it.

The new archaeological crew excavated the temple ruins through its entry gate, which revealed two massive fallen granite columns.

Officials said researchers are now studying the unearthed blocks and the site to determine the temple’s architectural design.

Meanwhile, the discovery is another boon for Egypt as it tries to lure foreign tourists back.

The country’s tourism sector took a major hit following the unrest that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Then the coronavirus pandemic and more recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, dealt more blows to the sector.

This story originally appeared in the May 05, 2022 newsletter, Batons and Bucks.