Archaeologists working in Cairo have discovered rare artifacts associated with the reign of King Khufu, the Egyptian pharaoh responsible for building the Great Pyramid.
The discoveries were made by a joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission operating in the ancient Heliopolis-“City of the Sun” northeast of what is now Cairo. The findings include several granite blocks dated by researchers to the reign of King Khufu in the first half of the Old Kingdom period, 2589-2566 BC.
Archaeologists explain that this discovery is significant, since artifacts from the Khufu period were found for the first time in Heliopolis. The team added that the blocks may have belonged to an unknown building in the area or moved from the Giza pyramid site to Heliopolis to be “recycled” to a new structure during the Ramesside period of the late 2nd century. millennium BC. .
Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt.
Although it is generally accepted that Khufu was responsible for the dedication of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, much of the history of his reign is shrouded in mystery today.
Most of his other buildings were lost in the sands of the time, and the only remaining complete representation of the pharaoh is in the form of a three-inch-high ivory figurine found in a newer temple at Abydos in 1903.
In fact, everything else known about Khufu comes from inscriptions on his tomb at Giza and documents made after his reign.
The mission discovered traces of the very early history of the Heliopolis site, as well as the foundations of the temple courtyard built during the New Kingdom period.
The chief archaeologist Dr. Ayman Ashmawy said: “The mission discovered evidence of early use of this site based on archaeological layers built in the 0 Dynasty.”
Dynasty 0 – also known as Naqada III – was the last stage of the Predynastic period in Egypt, which lasted from 3200 to 3000 BC.
Ashmawi added that the excavations also revealed “layers of pottery sherds showing religious and ritual activities in the 3rd millennium BC.”
The archaeologist explained that there is also evidence of an important presence in the Third and Fourth Dynasties – a piece of granite built in 2280 BC, from the reign of King Pepi I, with Horus written on it.
Dr. said. According to Ashmawi, the excavations also included King George II. He also discovered the pedestal of the statue of Ahmose.
This pharaoh was the last great ruler of Egypt, who ruled from 570-526 BC before the conquest of Persia.
It also revealed many late offerings, including a series of altars and the presence of Sphinx-shaped statues indicating the king’s presence in the temple.
Leading the German side of the expedition, Dr. Dietrich Rau said the excavations were also able to excavate various fragments of the altar and coffin.
He explained that they came from the reigns of King Amenemhat IV, Sobihotep IV, Ay, Seti I, Osorkon I, Takelot I, and Basmtik I.
He added that other notable discoveries include a quartz carving in the shape of the Great Sphinx of King Amenhotep II, as well as the pedestal of a large pink granite statue.
The archaeologists of the expedition, whose preliminary studies have already been completed, will continue their excavations in hopes of discovering more discoveries in the area.
Source: Express
Source: Arabic RT
