In the quiet Egyptian village of Athribis, near Sohag and approximately 200 kilometers north of Luxor, a team of researchers from the University of Tübingen, in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, has made a fascinating discovery.

A monumental entrance, known as a pylon, suggests the possible existence of a rock-cut sanctuary behind mounds of unexplored debris. This finding raises the exciting possibility that the cliffs of Athribis are guarding a hidden temple.

Since 2022, the team led by Professor Christian Leitz and excavation director Marcus Müller, along with Mohamed Abdelbadia of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority, has worked diligently to unearth what is believed to be a large stone temple.

egypt hidden temple
The north tower of the temple with the newly discovered chamber. Credit: Marcus Müller / Athribis Project

However, efforts in the area are not new. Excavations began in 2012, focusing on a religious district dating from 144 BCE to 138 CE. This period corresponds to the Ptolemaic dynasty, known for blending Egyptian and Hellenistic cultural elements.

The original temple measured 51 meters in width, with two monumental towers each reaching 18 meters in height. Unfortunately, much of this imposing structure was destroyed by stone extraction activities, likely in 752 CE or shortly after, according to a coin found at the site. Today, only about five meters of these towers remain, but the uncovered remnants provide valuable clues about its history.

Recent work on the pylon has revealed extraordinary details. On the northern side of the complex, archaeologists found reliefs depicting a king making offerings to the lion-headed goddess Repit and her son Kolanthes. For the first time, hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered here identify the ruler responsible for decorating and possibly building the pylon: Ptolemy VIII, who reigned in the 2nd century BCE.

egypt hidden temple
View of the north gate of the pylon. Credit: Marcus Müller / Athribis Project

An unexpected discovery was a hidden chamber within the northern tower. To access it, the team carefully removed a massive 20-ton ceiling block using advanced technology such as air cushions, wooden scaffolding, and rollers.

The chamber, six meters long and nearly three meters wide, initially served as a storage area for temple utensils and later for amphorae.

A corridor connects the pylon to this chamber, making it accessible from the outside. Additionally, the corridor walls are adorned with reliefs and inscriptions. Noteworthy are depictions of the goddess Repit and the fertility god Min, accompanied by unique star figures with falcon and ibis heads, symbols associated with nighttime timekeeping.

egypt hidden temple
A very rare depiction: a decan (a star that enables time to be measured at night) with a falcon’s head. Credit: Marcus Müller / Athribis Project

One of the most striking features of this temple is a second door on the pylon’s façade. This entrance leads to a staircase ascending at least four flights to an upper floor, now destroyed, where more storage rooms are believed to have existed. This design is unusual in Egyptian temple architecture, highlighting the uniqueness of the site.

In November 2024, excavations will focus on searching for remains of the supposed temple hidden behind the pylon. According to Professor Leitz, finely carved limestone blocks and a vertically cut rock façade suggest the existence of a rock-cut sanctuary.

Decorations found, such as a cobra frieze characteristic of Egyptian temples, point to the presence of a doorway that could lead to this mysterious chamber.

SOURCES

Universität Tübingen

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