Archaeologists in Egypt have made an interesting discovery at the ancient temple of Buto in Tell El-Fara’in, Kafr El-Sheikh province. An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities has unearthed what is believed to be the first and largest astronomical observatory from the 6th century B.C. This extraordinary find highlights the advanced knowledge and skill in astronomy possessed by the ancient Egyptians.
The observatory, constructed from mudbrick, served as a crucial center for observing and recording astronomical phenomena, as well as tracking the movements of the sun and stars.
According to Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the discovery provides significant insights into how the ancient Egyptians determined the solar calendar and set dates for religious and official ceremonies, such as royal coronations and the beginning of the agricultural year.
Despite the simplicity of their tools, this find sheds light on the sophisticated astronomical techniques employed by the Egyptians during this period.
One of the key discoveries within the observatory is an inclined stone sundial, referred to as a shadow clock, which was a prominent tool for measuring time in antiquity. This sundial consists of a straight row of limestone slabs, measuring 4.80 meters in length.
Five flat limestone blocks were placed on top, three of which were vertical and two horizontal. These slabs likely contained inclined lines used to measure the sun’s angle and shadow, helping to observe the sun’s movement throughout the day.
Dr. Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the observatory as the largest of its kind discovered from the 6th century B.C., covering an area of approximately 850 square meters. It was found in the southwestern corner of the temple area, featuring an eastward-facing entrance and a central columned hall shaped like an “L”. This central hall is preceded by a massive mudbrick wall, inclined inward, resembling the monumental facades typically seen at the entrances of Egyptian temples.
Within the observatory, archaeologists also uncovered a stone fixed in the floor of a circular room, flanked by two additional circular stones used to measure the sun’s inclination. Additionally, five mudbrick rooms were discovered, likely used for storing tools, along with four small mudbrick rooms and a small stone chamber representing the observatory’s tower.
A larger room was also found, featuring walls covered in yellow plaster, adorned with scenes and remnants of blue paint. These decorations depict a ceremonial boat with eight shrines, oars at the rear, and representations of the falcon-headed god Horus and the Eye of Udjat, symbols associated with the sun, moon, and the deities Horus and Wadjet, who were principal gods of Buto.
In the center of this room, a stone platform was discovered, inscribed with astronomical scenes, likely depicting the sunrise and sunset during the three seasons of the Egyptian year. The inscriptions also include measurements taken through the temple’s eastern and western doors, as well as symbols related to time and astronomy.
Other significant finds within the observatory include a gray granite statue from the reign of Pharaoh Wahibre of the 26th Dynasty, depicting the priest Psammetichus Smen holding a statue of the god Osiris. The mission also unearthed measuring tools such as the “merkhet”, alongside other instruments like a ruler, a square, and figurines of Osiris and the god Bes.
Additionally, faience necklaces, stone panels with inscriptions, offering tables, and amphora lids from the Saite period were found. The discovery also included a blue faience statue of the god Ptah and various religious symbols, alongside several pieces of pottery used in religious ceremonies and daily life.
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