Photos: Egypt discovers massive sacred basin and temple in North Sinai ...Egypt

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The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Thursday the discovery of a one-of-a-kind religious structure in the ancient city of Pelusium (Tell El-Farma). The temple was dedicated to the city’s local deity, “Pelousios.”

The discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission following six years of extensive excavation work at the site. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, stated that the find underscores the strategic and archaeological significance of North Sinai, a region still promising many secrets. He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to ongoing scientific research at the site to enrich human knowledge and academic study.

A fusion of civilizations

Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the discovery as “vital,” illustrating Pelusium’s pivotal role in disseminating religious and cultural ideas throughout the ancient world. The architectural remains reveal a unique blend of Ancient Egyptian traditions with Hellenistic and Roman styles—an exceptional embodiment of cultural interaction between Egypt and the Mediterranean world.

Symbolism of the ‘God of Mud’

Mohamed Abdel-Badi, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, provided technical details on the structure. The temple features a massive circular basin, 35 meters in diameter, which was once connected to the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. This basin was designed to be filled with Nile water and silt as a symbolic tribute to the god Pelousios, whose name is derived from the Greek word “Pelos,” meaning mud or silt.

The basin is surrounded by an integrated system of drainage canals, while a square pedestal sits at its center, likely once used to support a colossal statue of the deity. Archaeological layers suggest the facility was in continuous use from the 2nd century BCE until the 6th century CE, undergoing minor architectural modifications over the centuries.

From ‘Senate house’ to sacred site

The mission’s supervisor, Hisham Hussein, explained that the initial discovery occurred in 2019 when only 25 percent of a circular red-brick structure was uncovered. At the time, archaeologists hypothesized it might be the city’s Bouleuterion, which represented the Senate’s prominent civic building in ancient Greek and Roman cities. However, subsequent excavation seasons revealed a much larger and more complex architectural design.

Following in-depth field studies and scientific comparisons with Hellenistic and Roman models outside of Egypt—including consultations with experts like Jean-Yves Carrez-Maratray, Professor of Classical Archaeology at Sorbonne University—the mission reclassified the site. The evidence confirmed that the structure was not a civic council hall, but rather a sacred water facility tied to specific religious rituals.

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