Egyptian Archaeologists Uncover 26th Dynasty Temple Hall With 16 Sandstone Columns in Bahariya Oasis
Updated
Updated · The Cool Down · Jun 23
Egyptian Archaeologists Uncover 26th Dynasty Temple Hall With 16 Sandstone Columns in Bahariya Oasis
3 articles · Updated · The Cool Down · Jun 23
Summary
A 16-column hypostyle hall and adjoining chambers have been uncovered at the Old Palace site in Al-Qasr village, adding major new 26th Dynasty temple remains in Egypt's Bahariya Oasis.
Reliefs and hieroglyphs naming Amun, Mut and Khonsu, along with sandstone blocks bearing Psamtik I's names and titles, indicate the temple began under Psamtik I and was expanded by Apries and Amasis II.
The finds strengthen evidence that Bahariya served both religious and administrative functions rather than acting as an isolated desert outpost, helping archaeologists reconstruct the temple's original layout.
Artifacts from Amenhotep II and Ramesses II point to activity before the 26th Dynasty, while Coptic and Latin inscriptions, industrial areas, and wine-and-oil basins show the site remained in use into the Greek, Roman and Christian periods.