Excavations at the ancient city of Ihnasya in Beni Suef have produced a series of discoveries spanning more than a millennium of Egyptian history, including an inscription of King Senusret III, a rare marble sculpture of Aphrodite and previously unknown sections of a Roman basilica.
The finds were made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the site of ancient Heracleopolis Magna, one of Egypt’s most important historic cities.
Among the discoveries is a reused stone block bearing the cartouche of Senusret III, the powerful Twelfth Dynasty ruler whose building projects are known from several locations across Egypt. Archaeologists also identified an inscription naming Osiris-Nefertem, a deity worshipped at Ihnasya during later periods.
The team uncovered additional sections of a Roman basilica together with the remains of an earlier temple. Preliminary analysis suggests that builders dismantled parts of the older structure and reused its stone blocks in the basilica’s foundations. Several massive architectural elements remain in their original positions.
A marble head representing Aphrodite is one of the most striking finds. The sculpture retains fine carved facial features and curled hair typical of classical art traditions. The sculpture is about 24 cm by 25 cm and is one of the few examples of its kind recovered from the site.
Fragments of statues, decorated wall parts and pottery moulds from coin production were also recovered. It is clear that the settlement was still around in the Roman period and was prosperous.
Ihnasya played an important role in the history of Egypt. It was the capital of Egypt in the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties and played an important role throughout the Pharaonic, Greek and Roman periods. Under Greek rule, the city became known as Heracleopolis Magna or Great City of Hercules.
Researchers are now studying the newly discovered material to better understand how the city has developed and how the religious and civic context of the city has changed over time.
Sources : Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
