May 24, 2022
Egyptian and German archaeologists working in the temple of Esna have finished their restoration work of the temple's reliefs, revealing the beautifully decorated scenes and their vibrant colors. The restoration and cleaning of the temple ceiling uncovered 24 representations of the goddess Nekhbet, the symbol of Upper Egypt, and 22 of the goddess Wadjet, the symbol of Lower Egypt.
The archaeologists said that most of the scenes and their details were hidden as they were covered by thick layers of dirt, fire residue, animal dung, and other factors that have accumulated for thousands of years. The team also uncovered– for the first time – a Roman text written in red ink that was completely hidden before restoration. It mentions the name of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD).
The temple of Esna is located about 485 miles south of Cairo. It is dedicated to the ram-headed god Khnum, who – as ancient Egyptians believed – created the human body from clay on his potter’s wheel. The temple of Khnum was constructed during the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.
Mark C Abeel
