Ramesses II Temple at Abydos Yields Secrets

CairoCulture caught up with Egyptologist Sameh Iskander, head of the NYU mission in Abydos, to hear about the latest news on the Ramesses Temple discovered by his team last year.

This year's excavations have led to more fascinating details about the foundation of the temple. Votive bulls found at the site strongly indicate that the temple was still in use and still considered a sacred sacrificial site long after Ramesses II's era.

Dr Sameh Iskander: "Last year's discoveries (2019) are amazing because they were totally unexpected. we were digging around the temple to find the scattered parts of the Temple and came upon a wall. The wall led to an entrance which led to a courtyard and we found this temple palace!!*

This year's (2020) excavations have led to more details being filled in about the foundation of the temple; more evidence that it was built during  Ramesses II's reign and not during his father's (the foundation deposits bearing the throne name of Ramesses II were buried under his first temple); and now, after finding votive bulls sacrificed as late as in the Ptolemaic period, this is strong indication that the temple was still sacred 1,000 years after its founding in Ramesses II's era."

"In February 2019, the NYU archaeological mission, led by Dr. Iskander, was undertaking clearance work around the base of the temple walls to recover scattered architectural elements. During this work, on the southern side of the temple, the mission came upon a previously unknown stone walk way leading from the walkway door courtyard and the temple palace was discovered,"

* Full details of the 2019 discovery are found here: https://www.nilemagazine.com.au/s/Nile-Magazine-No-20-June-July-2019-ARCE-Update-RII_Abydos_Temple_Palace-R.pdf

Photos of artifacts and location courtesy Dr Sameh Iskander