Archaeologists said they have found what appears to be a new sun temple complex in Egypt, established by ancient Egyptians 4,500 years ago.
The complexity of the site in the Heliopolis area around Abu Simbel has led to its discovery as the “most significant discovery ever made in the southern desert region of Egypt,” said Antonia Rosati of Italy’s National Archaeological Museum in a statement on its website.
Scientists have determined that the sculptures of the “fierce demilitarized” high priests and gilded seals found in the temple compound date back to around 1500 B.C. to 220 B.C.
This is the very earliest period when the sculptures of these priests could have been discovered, they said.
The complex was still growing when pharaoh Akhenaten emerged on the scene. Akhenaten restored the Heliopolis area and installed sun worship. The sun temples around Abu Simbel still remain today, he said.
Researchers who are studying the temple complex now will try to identify what ancient materials were used for its creation.
“It will be of great importance to understand how exactly solar worship was implemented in the 5th Dynasty of the age of Akhenaten and al-Akhdar,” said Scola.
He noted that scientists are also studying a collection of archaelogisms and amulets at the site.