An Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered the remains of a previously unknown temple dedicated to a local god at Tell el-Farama in the ancient city of Pelusium.
After six years of systematic excavation, the team—working under the Supreme Council of Antiquities—revealed a distinctive religious complex that experts say could reshape interpretations of Pelusium’s role in the ancient world.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sharif Fathi hailed the discovery as a milestone, emphasising North Sinai’s strategic and archaeological importance. He noted that ongoing excavations continue to uncover sites of considerable historical value, contributing to broader scientific knowledge and global heritage research.
According to Dr Hisham Lithi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the find highlights Pelusium’s central role as a crossroads for religious and cultural exchange. “This discovery demonstrates the city’s influence in transmitting ideas across civilisations,” he said, pointing to architectural elements that blend ancient Egyptian traditions with Hellenistic and Roman styles.
The temple’s remains comprise a substantial circular basin approximately 35 metres in diameter, attached to a branch of the ancient Pelusiac Nile. Archaeologists believe the basin once held water symbolically linked to the Nile’s fertile silt, possibly reflecting the identity of the deity Blozius, whose name may derive from the Greek word for clay.
Surrounding the basin is an advanced system of water channels, with a central square base thought to have supported a statue of the god. Stratigraphic evidence indicates the site remained in use from the 2nd century BC through to the 6th century AD, undergoing only minor architectural modifications over time.
Dr Hisham Hussein, head of the Central Department for Maritime Antiquities and Sinai and supervisor of the excavation, said early findings in 2019 showed only about a quarter of the circular structure. It was tentatively identified at the time as a civic building, possibly a senate.
“Ongoing excavation and comparative studies have completely changed our understanding,” Hussein said. “We now know this was a sacred water installation used in religious rituals, not a political structure.”
Consultations with international experts, including classical archaeology scholars from the Sorbonne in Paris, supported the reinterpretation and helped confirm the building’s ritual function. This finding not only sheds light on local religious practices but also underscores the complex cultural interactions between Egypt and the wider Mediterranean world during antiquity. Archaeologists say further study of the site may shed more light on the spiritual life and regional influence of ancient Pelusium.
Header Image Credit : Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
