Remains of rare 2,200-year-old Greco-Roman temple discovered in Egypt

According to the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a 2,200-year-old Greco-Roman temple in Egypt’s Western Desert. A sculpture of a man’s head and two limestone lion statues were among the artifacts discovered on the site.
Located at the Al-Salam site, which is south of the Mediterranean Sea, the ruins features the front section of the temple as well as parts of its foundation and main entrance.
The archaeologists also discovered a three-feet-thick outer wall leading to a front courtyard, which is surrounded on both sides by entrances to other chambers.
Ayman Ashmawi, the head of the Ministry’s Ancient Egyptian Antiquities department, revealed that the archaeologists expect to find more temple remains after other excavations are carried out later this year.
The head of the archaeological mission Abdel-Aziz El-Demery unveiled that during the removal of the debris from the site, the mission uncovered architectural elements including upper lintels decorated with scenes, as well as parts of corner pillars decorated with the egg-and-dart architectural device common in the Graeco-Roman era.
El-Demery added that the mission also found the remains of pots, coins, and a statue of a man with Greek facial features, as well as two limestone statues of lions, one of which is headless.
The history of the Siwa Oasis
She said that it will go a long way in helping to shed light on the history of the Siwa Oasis, which is one of the most isolated Egyptian settlements.
The stones and architectural elements show that the temple was built in the Greco-Roman style. The upper lintels and corner pillars are decorated with bas-relief ovals with pointed, narrow carvings.
Located in the Western Desert, Siwa Oasis is famous because Alexander the Great reportedly visited an oracle there who assured him he was the divine king of Egypt.
The temple discovery might provide some clues as to the Greco-Roman occupation era. Not only were temples used as religious places, but they were also economic hubs where priests lived and locals paid visits.
Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC, bringing an end to Persian rule. Following his death, his general Ptolemy took over, starting a line of monarchs who would rule for the next 275 years, until the Romans took over from 30 BC to 395 AD.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Images courtesy of the Egyptian Antiquities Ministry
- 1) European Heritage Days: Free entrance to sites, museums in Greece on Friday-Sunday
- 2) Timed ticketing system introduced at the Acropolis of Athens to improve crowding
- 3) Welsh nationalists join Chinese and Greek voices for return of Elgin Marbles
- 4) AP: Following British Museum thefts, Greece keeping watch what happens
22/09 22:18
Greek FM in trilateral meeting with Cyprus and Jordan counterparts in New York
22/09 21:12
The LAGFF announces special in-person and online screenings set for October
22/09 21:02
Emergency meeting for readiness of Greek state against upcoming adverse weather
22/09 19:22
Prime Minister: Greece is a pillar of energy stability and security in broader region
22/09 13:57
Chinese Travel and Leisure magazine selects Greece as top island destination for 2023
21/09 16:25
21/09 15:47
Protest rallies in downtown Athens against Labour bill concluded
21/09 11:43
21/09 11:27
Greek Prime Minister to address the United Nations General Assembly
21/09 00:13
Athens public transport disrupted on Thursday due to 24hr strike
20/09 21:26
Bank of Greece governor: Economy forecast to grow by 2.2% this year and 3.0% in 2024
20/09 20:22
European Heritage Days: Free entrance to sites, museums in Greece on Friday-Sunday
20/09 20:14
20/09 19:19
A Centenary Celebration of Maria Callas organized at Juilliard on September 21
20/09 01:40
ADEDY, seamen, air traffic controllers and Athens bus drivers declare strikes on Thursday
19/09 22:41
UNESCO adds Greece's Zagorochoria to its World Heritage List
19/09 21:58
Fitch Ratings and Moody's upgrade ratings of Greece's systemic banks
19/09 20:52
Agricultural Development Minister: EU funds for Greek farmers should be prioritized
19/09 19:47
St. Luke Hosted its Annual Greek Festival in Philadelphia on September 15-17
17/09 14:42
Global Greek Film Initiative supports professional development in Greece
17/09 14:33
Trojan AHEPA Chapter 306 volunteers support Regional Food Bank in New York
17/09 12:36
ADMIE: "Green" electricity production has reached record levels in Greece
17/09 11:44
Level at Lake Karla subsiding but Volos city without safe drinking water for 13th day
17/09 11:25
Greek National Tourism Organisation Secretary: Greece is winning sector's bet for 2023
16/09 15:54
Greek PM: Pulmonology clinic of 'Papanikolaou' hospital restored in record time
16/09 15:50
US consul general in Thessaloniki: Health of every person must be top priority
16/09 15:50
US consul general in Thessaloniki: Health of every person must be top priority
16/09 15:50
US consul general in Thessaloniki: Health of every person must be top priority
16/09 15:46
112 message sent over rising water at Lake Karla in flood-stricken Central Greece
16/09 15:41
Moody's raises Greece's ratings to Ba1 from Ba3 and keeps outlook stable
16/09 10:37
14/09 22:35
Cruise ship arrivals at Greek port of Piraeus up 85% in January-August 2023
14/09 18:50
HRADF declares Greek firm as preferred investor in tender for Attica Motorway
14/09 14:58
Greece's Athens Medical Group signs MoU with Egyptian Health Minister
12/09 22:53
Christos Stylianides takes over as Greek shipping minister after swearing-in ceremony
12/09 22:44
Autohellas announced a 23.5% increase in its second quarter turnover of 2023
12/09 22:41
Hellenic Film Society USA hosts the New York Greek Film Expo 2023
12/09 15:36
EC chief: Greece could mobilise up to €2.25 billion in aid for floods and fires
12/09 12:32
Greece's Aegean Motorway still closed due to flooding at Gyrtonis-Sykourio area
12/09 01:42
Memorial Service for September 11 victims organized at St. Nicholas WTC
11/09 23:51
Greek and Bulgarian Presidents tour pavilion of Bulgaria, honored country at TIF
11/09 23:44
Capital Link Shipping Forum to take place in London on September 12
11/09 23:38
11/09 22:38
Aegean national highway closed down at Tempi valley due to overflowing in Greece
10/09 23:47
87th TIF opens its gates amid scheduling changes due to disastrous storm
08/09 22:16
Greek PM: Restoring water in Volos and evacuating people in Pilio top priorities
08/09 21:01
Ferry brings technicians to restore power in Pilio and Skiathos island in Greece
08/09 15:13
08/09 14:08
20th Pan-Icarian Convention in Philadelphia honors U.S. Senator Robert Menendez
08/09 12:13
Tax Free Service extension in prepackaged food products and alcoholic beverages
08/09 10:04
TFTD 2023: Artificial Intelligence areas that Greece could become a leader in
07/09 00:45
07/09 00:41
Greek Minister meets Ambassadors of Italy, the Netherlands, Egypt and Bangladesh
07/09 00:36
Codeshares of AEGEAN Air and Emirates extended to Athens-New York route
06/09 14:24
06/09 00:33
Round-table discussion on 'Smart cities and AI' organized at TIF on Saturday
04/09 22:19
04/09 20:29
Timed ticketing system introduced at the Acropolis of Athens to improve crowding
04/09 17:39
Greece, Israel and Cyprus committed to expanding trade, and collaboration with India
03/09 01:26
Minister writes to regions and municipalities for anti-corrosive and anti-flooding works
03/09 01:11
Greek Language Institute sessions at the Hellenic American Academy begin soon
02/09 19:15
02/09 14:05
Greek Coast Guard rescues 61 undocumented migrants off Serifos island
31/08 09:50
Prime Minister to address Greek parliament on measures to tackle climate crisis
31/08 08:53
Welsh nationalists join Chinese and Greek voices for return of Elgin Marbles
31/08 07:49
Economic Chamber calls for October-November deadlines for Greek balance sheets
31/08 06:58
Greek tax authority chief: Revenues from booking platforms could reach €700 million
31/08 00:24
Media: Optimism reigns at commencement of St. Demetrios of Astoria School Year
30/08 10:56
30/08 01:53
UNWTO to assist Greek island of Thassos rebuild tourism sector
30/08 01:20
National trade and investment agency of Greek state Enterprise Greece in spotlight
30/08 00:34
Historic Palamas Residence in Athens suburb of Plaka undergoes restoration
30/08 00:13
29/08 22:31
Historic Hosios Loukas monastery in central Greece reopens to visitors after fire
29/08 21:18
Media: Mandarin Oriental launches luxurious resort in Greece’s Costa Navarino
29/08 19:05
Al Fursan and Typhoon aircraft in Athens ahead of Athens Flying Week 2023
29/08 17:24
Greek president: Med countries should respond to revert the climate crisis
28/08 20:19
President of the Hellenic Republic arrives at Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia
28/08 19:28
EU mobilization for Greece's help with fires reaches 350 firefighters and 12 aircraft
28/08 19:10
AP: Greek suburb residents buy early warning drones to stop wildfires
28/08 18:24
Greek heritage hockey team visits South Florida for Amerigol LATAM Cup
28/08 16:26
Greek Maritime Golf Event supports Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”
28/08 14:05
Piraeus Chamber chief: We welcome India's interest in Greek ports
27/08 21:16
Yale University men’s basketball team takes trip of a lifetime across Greece
27/08 17:24
AP: Following British Museum thefts, Greece keeping watch what happens
27/08 15:12
Pope Francis from the Vatican: 'I express my solidarity with the Greek people'
27/08 00:29
Foreign financial institutions give vote of trust in Athens stock exchange and Greek banks
27/08 00:21
EFKA online services to go offline for upgrades on September 1-10
26/08 19:05
Greek firefighters battling flare-ups and outbreaks in Evros, Andros and Fthiotida
26/08 14:54
TNH exclusive report: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson vacation in Karpathos island
26/08 13:38
26/08 11:50
Joint Declaration inked in Athens upgrades Greece-India relationship to Strategic Partnership
26/08 00:02
Online platform for 'Market Pass' applications opens in Greece on September 15
24/08 23:52
Greek Fire Brigade: Mount Parnitha wildfire conditions substantially improved
24/08 22:04
Dadia forest fire damage too early to assess though hopes remain in Greece
24/08 20:44
Covid-19 infections up with 33 fatalities in Greece during August 14-20
24/08 20:00
Foreign Minister to Wion news: Greece can become India's gateway to Europe
24/08 19:53
Greek authorities simplify storage process for vehicles with foreign license plates
24/08 01:53
24/08 01:52
Mt. Parnitha fire near Athens has subsided but firefighting efforts continue overnight
Greek FM in trilateral meeting with Cyprus and Jordan counterparts in New York
Prime Minister: Greece is a pillar of energy stability and security in broader region
Chinese Travel and Leisure magazine selects Greece as top island destination for 2023
Emergency meeting for readiness of Greek state against upcoming adverse weather
The LAGFF announces special in-person and online screenings set for October
Athens public transport disrupted on Thursday due to 24hr strike
Greek Prime Minister to address the United Nations General Assembly
Protest rallies in downtown Athens against Labour bill concluded
European Heritage Days: Free entrance to sites, museums in Greece on Friday-Sunday
A Centenary Celebration of Maria Callas organized at Juilliard on September 21
ADEDY, seamen, air traffic controllers and Athens bus drivers declare strikes on Thursday
Bank of Greece governor: Economy forecast to grow by 2.2% this year and 3.0% in 2024
Minister: Almost 'zero chances' of power cuts due to energy crisis in Greece
Athens metro cancellations during visit of German Chancellor on Wednesday-Thursday
UNESCO adds Greece's Zagorochoria to its World Heritage List
Media: Hot town, summer in the city of Athens: Greece prepares for baking heat
Inspirational project promoting Hellenism and love for Greece globally (video)
Alexandroupolis port signs agreement for direct flights to Larnaca in Cyprus
161 buses running on natural gas moved out of Ano Liossia depot in Athens
Tax Free Service extension in prepackaged food products and alcoholic beverages