Ruins Of Ancient Temple For Greek God Zeus Unearthed In Sinai Peninsula

Archeologists work within the ruins of a temple for Zeus-Kasios, the traditional Greek god, on the Inform el-Farma archaeological web site within the northwestern nook of the Sinai Peninsula.

Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry by way of Related Press

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian archaeologists unearthed the ruins of a temple for the traditional Greek god Zeus within the Sinai Peninsula, antiquities authorities stated Monday.

The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry stated in an announcement the temple ruins had been discovered within the Inform el-Farma archaeological web site in northwestern Sinai.

Inform el-Farma, additionally identified by its historic identify Pelusium, dates again to the late Pharaonic interval and was additionally used throughout Greco-Roman and Byzantine instances. There are additionally stays relationship to the Christian and early Islamic intervals.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated archaeologists excavated the temple ruins by way of its entrance gate, the place two big fallen granite columns had been seen. The gate was destroyed in a strong earthquake in historic instances, he stated.

Waziri stated the ruins had been discovered between the Pelusium Fort and a memorial church on the web site. Archaeologists discovered a set of granite blocks in all probability used to construct a staircase for worshipers to succeed in the temple.

Inform el-Farma, additionally identified by its historic identify Pelusium, dates again to the late Pharaonic interval and was additionally used throughout Greco-Roman and Byzantine instances. There are additionally stays relationship to the Christian and early Islamic intervals.

Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry by way of Related Press

Excavations on the space date again to early 1900 when French Egyptologist Jean Clédat discovered historic Greek inscriptions that confirmed the existence of the Zeus-Kasios temple however he didn’t unearth it, in keeping with the ministry.

Zeus-Kasios is a conflation of Zeus, the God of the sky in historic Greek mythology, and Mount Kasios in Syria, the place Zeus as soon as worshipped.

Hisham Hussein, the director of Sinai archaeological websites, stated inscriptions discovered within the space present that Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138) renovated the temple.

He stated specialists will research the unearthed blocks and do a photogrammetry survey to assist decide the architectural design of the temple.

The temple ruins are the most recent in a collection of historic discoveries Egypt has touted up to now couple of years within the hope of attracting extra vacationers.

The tourism trade has been reeling from the political turmoil following the 2011 fashionable rebellion that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The sector was additionally dealt additional blows by the coronavirus pandemic and most just lately Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.