Cartouche of King Senusret III, the remains of a Roman Basilica, an ancient Doric temple, and a rare marble head of the goddess Aphrodite among the latest discoveries.

The Egyptian archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities working at Ihnasya el-Medina in Beni Suef Governorate, headed by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Director General of Beni Suef Antiquities, has uncovered a number of important archaeological finds that shed further light on the city’s religious and cultural significance throughout the Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman periods.

The discoveries include a reused stone block bearing a raised inscription of the name of King Senusret III, including both his throne name and birth name, as well as another cartouche bearing the name of the deity Osiris-Naref, one of the principal gods worshipped in Ihnasya during the ancient Egyptian and Ptolemaic periods.

The mission also uncovered extensions of a Roman basilica, remains of an ancient Doric temple, and a rare marble head of the goddess Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. In addition, fragments of relief sculptures and clay molds used for minting coins dating to the Roman period were discovered.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy stated that these discoveries represent an important scientific and archaeological addition that highlights the great historical value of Ihnasya el-Medina and reflects the cultural and civilizational diversity that Egypt witnessed throughout its long history.

He emphasized that the Ministry attaches great importance to archaeological sites across the country as part of its strategy to improve and develop them and to open new sites to tourism, thereby diversifying Egypt’s cultural tourism offerings.

For his part, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the discovery of a cartouche bearing the name of King Senusret III is particularly significant, as the king was associated with several important monuments in Ihnasya, confirming the city’s sacred status in ancient Egypt and the attention it received from Middle Kingdom rulers.

He added that the discovery of additional sections of the Roman basilica helps clarify the architectural and functional development of this building type. During the Greek period, basilicas served as public buildings for meetings and administrative and commercial activities, before being transformed into churches during the early Christian period for religious services and ecclesiastical gatherings.

Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted that preliminary studies of the remains of the Doric temple revealed that its architectural elements were reused during the 6th century AD as foundations and flooring to support the basilica’s columns. The builders rearranged the stones and blocks in an irregular manner to create a strong base capable of supporting the immense weight of the columns, some of which are estimated to weigh around 45 tons. Three of these columns remain standing in their original positions to this day.

Regarding the head of Aphrodite, Abdel Badie explained that it is a rare artistic piece made of marble, measuring approximately 24 × 25 cm. The sculpture is distinguished by its fine craftsmanship and detailed execution, particularly in the facial features and curly hair, reflecting the classical artistic style commonly seen in representations of deities and prominent figures of the period.

Dr. Sami Dardiri, Head of the Central Administration for Middle Egypt Antiquities, pointed out that the discovered relief sculpture fragments, together with the clay coin-minting molds, reflect the city’s importance during the Roman period and demonstrate its continued economic and cultural prosperity. He added that the mission is currently continuing its study and scientific dating of these finds.

It is worth noting that Ihnasya el-Medina is one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites. It served as the capital of Egypt during the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties and was the capital of the 20th nome of Upper Egypt. The city maintained great significance throughout the Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and Third Intermediate Period, and flourished during the Greek and Roman eras when it was known as Heracleopolis Magna—meaning “The Great City of Heracles.”

These discoveries come as part of the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ ongoing efforts to uncover more secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization, promote archaeological and historical research at various sites, and preserve and showcase Egypt’s cultural heritage on the global stage.