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(CNN) - Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a long-lost temple, some 2,200 years old, which is believed to have belonged to Pharaoh Ptolemy IV.
The structure of the ancient tomb was accidentally found by construction workers during drilling in a sewage drain in the village of Kom Shakau, in the municipality of Tama, north of Sohag, according to a Facebook post on 29 September by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
- They find at least 34 mummies in an ancient tomb in Egypt
The drilling work was suspended after the discovery. Archaeologists quickly found stone inscriptions with text fragments named Ptolemy IV, the fourth pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt.
A photo published by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities shows the newly discovered grave.
(Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities)
The team has so far discovered a north-south wall, an east-west wall and the southwest corner of the limestone structure, which is engraved with carvings of Hapi, the Egyptian god of the annual Nile flood, carrying offerings while surrounded by birds and flowers.
Experts are working to save what remains of the temple, which is located on the western bank of the Nile. It is believed that Ptolemy IV ruled Egypt from around 221 BC. C. until 204 a. C. His government was not successful and was more interested in frolicking and pursuing artistic endeavors than in royalty.
Sarcophagi inside a funerary well recently discovered on the Giza pyramid plateau in Cairo.
(Credit: MAHMOUD KHALED / AFP / AFP / Getty Images)
Ancient texts indicate that it is said that the pharaoh built the largest ship of human propulsion ever made. Called the Tessarakonteres ("Forty"), the galley had 40 rowing banks, operated by 4,000 rowers.
The discovery of the ancient temple is the last of a series of archaeological discoveries in 2019. Egypt hopes to increase interest in tourism after the country's uprising in 2011.
An image shows the interior of the tomb of the ancient Egyptian nobleman "Khewi" in the Saqqara necropolis, about 35 kilometers south of Cairo. (Credit: MOHAMED EL-SHAHED / AFP / Getty Images)
In August 2018, the United Nations Tourism Report highlighted Egypt as the fastest growing tourist destination in 2017, with a 55.1% growth in international arrivals that year.
Important findings include eight mummies from the Ptolemaic dynasty (323-30 BC) enclosed in brightly colored coffins in the Dahshur necropolis near Giza, a stone sphinx in Kom Ombo, a river-side temple near Aswan dedicated to crocodile god Sobek and the discovery of a 4,400-year-old tomb at the archaeological site of Saqqara.
These ancient treasures accompany the current boom in the construction of museums in Egypt, with new collections scheduled to open soon in the cities of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. The long-awaited Great Egyptian Museum is also nearing completion. The world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization is preparing for a grand opening in mid-2020.
Discoveries