Archaeologists uncover well-preserved temple, cult center dating back to ancient Egypt

Archaeologists precocious uncovered an impressive Egyptian temple dedicated to a fertility deity that dates backmost implicit 2,000 years.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities released a connection astir the find connected Saturday. The excavation was headed by a associated Egyptian-German archaeological commission.

Historians judge the temple dates backmost to the reign of King Ptolemy VIII, who whitethorn person besides been the temple's founder. Ptolemy VIII was an Egyptian king of the Ptolemaic dynasty and died successful 116 BC.

The building, which archaeologists are calling the Great Temple of Athribis, was recovered successful Sohag. Athribis was a cult halfway dedicated to Min, a fertility god.

US-EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEAM UNCOVERS 4,000-YEAR-OLD TOMB NEAR LUXOR WITH JEWELRY, OTHER ARTIFACTS

The Great Temple of Athribis featured a monolithic pylon consisting of 2 towers. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via Facebook)

The Ptolemaic dynasty consisted of Macedonian Greek rulers who controlled Egypt for astir 300 years, opening successful 305 BC and ended successful 30 BC. Its dissolution marked the extremity of Hellenistic Egypt, earlier the Romans reigned.

In a Facebook station that was translated to English from Arabic, the ministry said that the temple's pylon – oregon its gross – was 167 feet wide. Each operation had a width of 78 feet. 

FLORIDA PROFESSOR FINDS EVIDENCE THAT ANCIENT EGYPTIANS DRANK HALLUCINOGENIC COCKTAILS

The property merchandise adds that Dr. Mohammed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said that the archetypal tallness of the pylon was astir 59 feet tall.

The Great Temple of Athribis whitethorn person been founded by Ptolemy VIII, a Greek king of Egypt. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via Facebook)

Hieroglyphic texts were besides recovered on the exterior facade of the pylon. Excavators besides discovered immoderate of the temple's interior walls and engravings of Min and Repyt, a lion goddess who was 1 of his wives.

SCIENTISTS STUDY ‘VERY RARE’ FROZEN REMAINS OF 35,000-YEAR-OLD SABER-TOOTHED CUB

Archaeologists besides uncovered the confederate enclosure decorated with hieroglyphic texts and landscapes of Min and Repyt, on with depictions of celestial gods "to measurement the hours of the night," the property merchandise said.

The radical of archaeologists besides discovered an attic with a staircase consisting of 4 steps, which whitethorn person been destroyed successful the 700s AD. The attic was accessible done a tiny entranceway to the building.

The temple was dedicated to the Egyptian fertility deity Min. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via Facebook)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

"It is worthy noting that the associated Egyptian-German ngo has been moving successful the Atribus portion for much than 10 years, resulting successful the implicit disclosure of each parts of the Great Temple of Atribus," the Egyptian ministry's announcement concluded.

For much Lifestyle articles, sojourn foxnews.com/lifestyle