In the fall of 2022, a Russian-Egyptian archaeological team explored a vast 100-hectare area of immense historical importance. Led by the Russian Institute of Oriental Studies and the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities, the project promises groundbreaking discoveries across a diverse landscape.
Gebel el-Nour is an exceptional and remarkably well-preserved complex, encompassing an ancient village, a temple dedicated to Isis, mysterious necropolises, and even ancient quarries and trade routes.
“It’s a rare opportunity to explore such a well-preserved site,” said Maxim Lebedev of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Occupied since the Paleolithic period, Gebel el-Nour reached its zenith during the Greco-Roman era. The Temple of Isis, constructed under Ptolemy II, is believed to be connected to the cult of his wife Arsinoe II, deified after her death.
Excavations yielded fascinating finds, including:
– a hybrid statue depicting an Egyptian god in Roman attire,
-imported ceramics, attesting to distant trade connections.
In 2024, archaeologists explored two necropolises. One necropolis yielded an intact family tomb dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries, containing:
🔵mummies,
🔵a gold funerary mask,
🔵ritually “killed” vessels intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.
The other, a rock tomb, still holds many mysteries awaiting unearthing.
Gebel el-Nour was a key point on the caravan routes to the quarries. Later, the Romans established a garrison there to monitor the desert nomads.
Looking ahead to 2025, the expedition team plans to:
🔵conduct new excavations of the village,
🔵utilize LiDAR mapping to uncover hidden structures,
🔵create 3D models to provide a virtual tour of the temple, further illuminating the rich history of Gebel el-Nour.
