A peculiar, perfectly round ancient Egyptian temple that may have been used for holy water rites 2,200 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists.
Situated southeast of present-day Port Said in the ancient port city of Pelusium, the circular temple is centred on a massive water basin that is roughly 35 meters (115 feet) broad.
Researchers found that a network of water pipes and reservoirs truly connects this construction to the Nile.
This implies that the Egyptian river god Pelusius may have been worshipped in ornate rituals at the temple.
A sizable square pedestal in the middle of the temple’s water basin is said by experts to have originally supported a statue of the god.
In ancient mythology, Pelusius is referred to as a “shadowy figure” who arises from the blending of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian beliefs.
Although the Greek word “pelos,” which means “mud” or “silt,” is the source of his name, very little information about the god has remained.
“If this Roman-era cult structure can be confirmed to be dedicated to the city god Pelusius, it would be a stunning example of the presence of a temple for a deity previously attested only in Classical sources,” Egyptologist Dr. Steve Harvey of the Archaeological Institute of America told The Art Newspaper.
An odd, completely round ancient Egyptian temple that may have been used for holy water rites 2,200 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists.
Iframes are not supported by your browser.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, archaeologists initially discovered the circular temple construction in 2019.
The researchers believed they had located the city’s sennett house, the hub of political organization, after about 25% of the building had been exposed.
But this understanding started to shift as more of the circular structure surfaced from the ground.
Archaeologists soon discovered the system of streams that linked the sanctuary to a Nile tributary.
“Ongoing excavation and comparative studies have completely changed our understanding [of the site],” stated Hisham Hussein, the chairman of Egypt’s Central Department for Maritime Antiquities and Sinai, who oversaw the excavation.
“We now understand that this was not a political structure but rather a sacred water installation used in religious rituals.”
For the inhabitants of this area, the Nile and its annual flood pattern would have been extremely significant both practically and religiously.
Each year, the river overflowed its banks, engulfing large tracts of land in silty water that later receded, leaving behind rich, fertile material that was ideal for cultivating crops.
The building is situated southeast of present-day Port-Said in the ancient port city of Pelusium. It has a large water basin that is roughly 35 meters (115 feet) broad.
When the huge brick walls were first discovered, archaeologists believed it to be the city’s sennett house, the center of local politics.
The Egyptians gave the Nile its own god, Hapi, because the river was so significant to them.
Researchers discovered spaces to gather water and signs of Nile silt inside the temple, proving its symbolic association with the river.
The intricate history of conquest and occupation between the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilisations is also revealed by the temple’s distinctive design.
On formerly submerged ground on the eastern fringe of the Nile Delta, the thriving city of Pelusium was established somewhere before 800 BC.
The city occupied a vital strategic location that was perfect for trade, right before the river splits into tributaries that wind down to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Greeks and Persian empires tried to conquer it, the Ptolemaic emperors used it as a customs station to link their empire with the outside world, and the Egyptian Pharaohs constructed it into a fortress city.
The city eventually became a provincial capital after being absorbed by the Roman Empire’s expansion.
Each age of influence is clearly seen in the city’s distinctive architecture and blend of styles.
Researchers discovered a network of water canals and reservoirs that link the building to the Nile, indicating that water-based worship was practiced there.
The Egyptian river god Pelusius, whose name is derived from the Greek word “pelos,” which means “mud” or “silt,” may have been worshipped in the temple.
According to archaeologists, the city’s architecture is a unique blend of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian elements.
Archaeologists think the temple was constructed during the Roman era based on its massive, red brick walls.
But the tale of the gods Isis and Osiris is most frequently connected to the ancient Egyptian god Pelusius.
Similarly, in 2022, scholars discovered a temple honouring the Greek god Zeus that had been restored in the second century AD under the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The site’s “unique architectural design combining ancient Egyptian traditions and the Hellenic and Roman styles” was highlighted by Hisham Lithi, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The city is “an exceptional embodiment of the civilised interaction between Egypt and the ancient world,” according to Mr. Lithi.
