More remnants of the Temple of the Sun were discovered in the Matareya area

The joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Leipzig University Museum succeeded in discovering more remains of the Sun Temple, while completing its excavation work this season in the area surrounding the open-air Obelisk Museum from the western, northern and southern sides in the city of Uno (Heliopolis) in the Matareya region.

This was stated by Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explaining that the mission is scheduled to complete its excavation work during the coming seasons to study and document what has been revealed, in addition to excavation work in the area surrounding the open museum in the obelisk, which contributes to a clearer knowledge of the history of this region.

He added that although no evidence of stone buildings was found on the northern side of the open museum, the mission succeeded in uncovering a succession of white mortar floors and mud-brick buildings dating back to the second half of the first millennium BC, which indicates the presence of Settlement in this part of the temple during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.

For his part, Dr. said. Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian antiquities sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities and head of the mission from the Egyptian side, said that the mission succeeded during the current season of excavations in uncovering a number of sarcophagi made of quartzite from the reign of King Horemheb from about 1300 BC, and others belonging to King Psamtik II (595-589 BC). m" made of Jeriwaka stone, and a floor made of limestone tiles, in addition to parts of a royal statue whose owner has not yet been identified, but its artistic features indicate that it may date back to the Middle Kingdom or the Second Intermediate Period.

d said. Dietrich Rau, Director of the German Archaeological Institute and head of the mission from the German side, said that the mission also succeeded in uncovering many parts of statues of King Ramses II in the form of a sphinx made of quartz stone, a piece from the era of King Ramses IX, and a stone piece of pink granite with a huge inscription on it. It is likely to be the upper part of an obelisk, pointing out that its inscriptions will be studied during the coming period to determine its date. The mission also found the base of a statue of King Ramses II.

It should be noted that the joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission has been working in the Matareya area since 2012, and during the past excavation season it succeeded in uncovering parts of the remains of the temple, along with a large number of statues dating back to different eras of the ancient Egyptian civilization.