A new and important archaeological discovery comes from Egypt, where an Italian mission is bringing to light the remains of the valley temple of the solar deity Ra, built by Pharaoh Niuserra, ruler of the V dynasty (2500-2350 BC) who reigned around the mid-25th century BC. C. The excavations were conducted in the Abu Ghurab region, south of Cairo, by a team led by Massimiliano Nuzzolo and Rosanna Pirelli of the Universities of Turin and Naples L’Orientale.
According to the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities, which announced the discovery on social media, the discovery is of great importance: over 50% of an enormous building of more than 1000 square meters was brought to light, characterized by a unique architectural layout, which makes it one of the largest and most important solar temples among those known. The position of the temple had already been hypothesized in 1901 by the Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt, but at the time the high level of underground water (rising water table) had prevented excavations. Recent investigations have revealed the temple’s monumental entrance, original floor, limestone and granite column bases, and parts of the main portico. Sections of the corridor that connected the temple to the main road also emerged, as well as numerous other architectural elements still in their original position, such as doors and cladding slabs.
Among the most interesting discoveries is a slope that probably connected the temple to the Nile, confirming the ceremonial and symbolic role of the river, which must have had a primary role in religious functions. Also noteworthy is the discovery of a large stone threshold with hieroglyphic inscriptions, which report the name of the king and a calendar of religious ceremonies. Alongside the monumental structures, objects from everyday life were found, including pieces of an ancient backgammon-like board game, Senet, and numerous ceramics. Preliminary studies indicate that, after the end of the solar cult, the temple was reused as a living area during the First Intermediate Period (a particular period of political crisis in Egyptian history, during which the state fragmented towards the end of the 3rd millennium BC), offering new information on daily life in a very poorly documented period of Egyptian history.
The excavation mission will continue in the coming seasons, with the aim of further clarifying the origin and evolution of the solar temples, one of the most characteristic religious expressions of the Old Kingdom phase (2700-2200 BC).
