Ritualistic artifacts found at 'Temple of the Pharaohs' in Egypt

By Owen Jarus about 8 hours ago

The artifacts were used to worship Hathor, the goddess of the sky, and other deities.



Ivories depicting women carrying offerings and scenes of life were found in the temple. (Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

Archaeologists excavating the "Temple of the Pharaohs" (as it is now called) at the ancient city of Buto, about 59 miles (95 kilometers) east of Alexandria, in Egypt, have found 2,700-year-old tools and sculptures that were used in rituals for Hathor, the goddess of the sky.

The artifacts are associated with a mix of deities, not just the goddess of Hathor, that were worshipped in ancient Egypt and were presumably venerated at the temple, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement.

The finds include incense burners made of faience, one of which has an image of the god Horus on the top, Ayman Ashmawy, the director-general of the ministry's excavation department, said in the statement. The finds also include an udjat eye made out of gold. Udjat eyes were popular in ancient Egypt and were considered to be depictions of the eye of the god Horus. They were sometimes seen by the ancient Egyptians as symbols of protection and healing. The discoveries also include small statues of the goddess Taweret, who was associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and the god Thoth, who was associated with the moon and learning.

Ashmawy also noted that the finds include ivories that depict women carrying offerings and scenes of daily life that included plants, birds and animals. Additionally, they found artifacts that were inscribed with hieroglyphs.

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