
Photos: Greek and Roman tombs discovered near Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan
The discovery was made in the cemetery surrounding the Aga Khan Mausoleum on the West Bank of Aswan.
Excavation work also revealed Tomb #38, prominent for its design and structural condition. It lies more than two meters underground and is led by a nine-step stone staircase surrounded by mudbrick terraces, which were used for placing funerary offerings.
Inside the tomb, a limestone sarcophagus measuring approximately two meters in height was found, placed atop a rock platform carved directly into the mountain.
It featured a human-shaped lid bearing the clear features of a human face, adorned with a wig and striking decorations, as well as two columns of hieroglyphic texts recording prayers to the local Aswan deities.
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail Khaled explained that this discovery is clear evidence of the continued funerary use of the area by various social classes.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discovery as a valuable addition to Aswan Governorate, showcasing the diversity and richness of ancient Egyptian civilization throughout the ages.
He added that it further underscores the importance of international scientific cooperation in supporting archaeological discovery efforts, as the discovered tombs open new horizons for understanding the nature of local society in Aswan during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Al-Ahram Weekly
11 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Fourth Egyptian aid convoy reaches Karm Abu Salem as Israel stalls entry into Gaza - Foreign Affairs
Egypt's fourth humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza reached the Karm Abu Salem crossing early Wednesday, after crossing from Rafah amid ongoing Israeli delays that have slowed the entry of life-saving supplies. Dozens of trucks carrying food, medical, and relief materials were seen queuing at the border, awaiting clearance to deliver urgently needed aid to the besieged southern Gaza Strip. According to Al-Qahera News, Egypt has delivered over 4,000 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Gaza over the past three days, despite bureaucratic and logistical obstacles on the Israeli side. The breakdown includes approximately 1,855 tonnes of food baskets, 1,640 tonnes of flour, 400 tonnes of personal care items, and 150 tonnes of medical aid. Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) officials reported that Israeli authorities delayed the entry of the fourth convoy, citing concerns that some truckloads were 'unbalanced.' Several trucks were forced to return to the Egyptian side to adjust cargo or reattempt entry the following day. The ERC, which is coordinating national humanitarian relief efforts for Gaza, launched its first convoy, named Zad El-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza, on Sunday. That initial shipment included more than 100 trucks carrying 1,200 tonnes of supplies, primarily flour and food parcels. On Monday, the second convoy crossed into Gaza carrying around 1,500 tonnes of aid, followed by the third convoy on Tuesday with roughly 1,300 tonnes. Combined, the three convoys delivered critical food and medical support, including 440 tonnes of food baskets, 450 tonnes of flour, 150 tonnes of medications, and 200 tonnes of hygiene items. Since the beginning of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, Egypt says it has facilitated the entry of more than 35,000 aid trucks, delivering over 500,000 tonnes of humanitarian relief. However, international organizations have repeatedly warned that Israel's blockade and restrictions on aid access continue to worsen conditions on the ground, starving the Strip's 2.4 million population to death. The ERC, operating with a volunteer base of 35,000 across its logistics hubs, remains a central actor in Egypt's broader response to the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. Aid groups have emphasized the urgency of sustained access and called for the immediate removal of obstructions to humanitarian delivery. Starvation crisis and aid access The delivery of Egyptian aid comes amid mounting international alarm over Gaza's deepening famine, exacerbated by Israel's ongoing blockade and bombardment. For over four months, humanitarian agencies and food security experts have warned that famine is imminent. The United Nations (UN) estimates that 600 to 800 aid trucks are needed daily to sustain life in the territory, numbers that remain far out of reach. Since October 2023, Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 60,000 Palestinians—primarily women and children—and injured over 144,000 others, with many still buried under rubble. But hunger has emerged as a second front of devastation. Images of severely emaciated children, many of whom have been killed by the manufactured famine engineered by Israel, have triggered growing backlash from Tel Aviv's allies, including the US, and sparked calls for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. The context of the alert is stark: one in three people is now going without food for days at a time, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said this week. Hospitals, already decimated by bombing and supply shortages, have treated more than 20,000 children for acute malnutrition since April. At least 16 children under five have died from hunger-related causes in the last two weeks. In recent days, at least five infants died from hunger-related causes. More than 900,000 children in Gaza are now suffering from hunger, and 70,000 have entered the stage of clinical malnutrition, putting them at imminent risk of death. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


Watani
3 days ago
- Watani
Ancient Coptic city unearthed in Western Desert
An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has unveiled a significant discovery in the heart of the Western Desert of the remains of the central residential city of Kharga Oasis, dating back to the early Coptic (Egyptian Christian) period that extended from the first to the 8th century AD—a period during which Egypt was under Roman and Arab rule ; the Arabs conquered Egypt in 640. Located in Ain al-Kharab archaeological site some 5km north of the city of all-Kharga, the unearthed ancient city offers rare insight into Egypt's transition to Christianity. Among the findings are the ruins of residential structures, churches, and cemeteries, also a mural depicting Christ healing a sick person. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, described the discovery as a testament to the depth and diversity of Egyptian civilisation during one of its most transformative periods. 'This find enriches our understanding of religious transition in Egypt,' he said. 'This discovery is considered a valuable window into early Christian life in Egypt,' asserted Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the SCA. 'Kharga Oasis played a key role as a religious and social hub throughout many historical periods,' he said. Mr Khaled explained that the unearthed structures include mudbrick homes with plastered walls, service areas fitted with ovens, and storage spaces containing large fixed pottery jars once used for preserving food and grain. The mission also recovered ostraca, pottery fragments, glass and stone artefacts, burial remains, and a vivid mural illustrating Christ performing a healing miracle. Findings from previous excavation seasons, Mr Khaled added, indicate that the site was used continuously throughout several centuries. Roman-era buildings were later adapted for use during the early Coptic period and again in the Islamic era. Seham Ismail, Director General of Antiquities in Kharga and head of the mission, revealed that the team also uncovered the remains of two churches. One, she explained, is a large basilica-style church featuring a central hall flanked by two aisles, separated by rows of square columns, with service buildings to the south. The second church is smaller, she said, rectangular in shape, with remnants of seven exterior columns and Coptic inscriptions still visible on its interior walls. Additional service structures were found on its western side. According to archaeology expert Abdel-Rehim Rihan, member of the SCA's History and Antiquities Commission, al-Kharga Oasis some 600km southwest Cairo, saw large incoming waves of Christians in the 3rd century AD, apparently fleeing to Kharga from Roman persecution. The numbers swelled to the point where the Alexandria Church installed a Bishop in Kharga. Christians were able to practise their faith and worship freely there, far from the eyes of the Roman authorities. They left behind towns, churches, cemeteries, and monasteries. The famous Bagawat necropolis in Kharga, believed to be the cemetery of the recently discovered city, is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved Christian cemeteries in the world. It dates back to the 3rd to 7th centuries AD and contains hundreds of mud-brick tombs, some with elaborate frescoes depicting biblical scenes. Comments comments Tags: Ancient Coptic city in Kharga OasisSanaa' Farouk


Mada
3 days ago
- Mada
Just 150 aid trucks depart to Gaza from Egypt as Israel announces ‘tactical suspension of military activities'
A convoy of just 150 aid trucks left Egypt early on Sunday morning for the Karam Abu Salem crossing in preparation for entry into the Gaza Strip. The supplies were the first to leave out of thousands of aid trucks that have remained stationary in North Sinai for weeks near Egypt's border with Gaza, as Palestinians endure mass starvation imposed by Israel through almost five months of siege. The window for the small aid delivery from Egypt opened after Israel announced a limited pause to fighting on Saturday night, intended to 'expand the volume of humanitarian aid entering the strip.' The Israeli government is under international pressure to loosen its siege on the millions of people in the strip after starvation-induced deaths accelerated in recent days, with the Gaza Health Ministry announcing over 30 deaths caused by malnutrition, many of whom were children. Despite opposition to the step from officials in Tel Aviv, including National Security Minister Itmar Ben Gvir, who called for a 'complete stop' to humanitarian aid on Saturday night, the Israeli military announced that it would implement a daily 'tactical suspension of military activities' for 'humanitarian purposes' in the areas of Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Mawasi, with military activity still ongoing in the majority of the coastal enclave. The pauses are to begin Sunday and last from 10 am to 8 pm until further notice, the military said. Following two days of preparations at Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses in Arish city, a source from the agency said that trucks belonging to the Egyptian and Emirati Red Crescent Societies and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), carrying flour, food supplies, medicine and medical supplies departed toward Karam Abu Salem on Sunday morning. A statement published by the agency said the shipment included around 840 tons of flour and 450 tons of various food items. Trucks arriving from North Sinai to the Karam Abu Salem crossing — which joins Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian territory and is under Israeli supervision — were required to unload their cargo on the Israeli side for inspection before reloading onto Palestinian trucks for entry into Gaza, the red crescent source said. All 150 trucks had crossed from the Egyptian side by 6 am on Sunday, the source added. But as of 8 am, the Israeli military was yet to greenlight the aid's entry into Gaza, according to a WFP official in Egypt cited by the BBC. The limited volumes join a trickle of aid still reaching Gaza. The WFP said on Sunday it delivered only 350 trucks of food aid into Gaza last week 'under extremely challenging circumstances that put civilians and aid workers at tremendous risk.' Without permission from Israel to move along secured routes without the risk of being subjected to Israeli fire, WFP convoys have been exposed to looting in south Gaza by the armed group operating in Israeli-held Rafah, while convoys entering the north last week were rushed by crowds of thousands of people waiting to access limited supplies of aid. The agency mourned the loss of 'countless lives' last week, after Israeli forces shot and killed 80 aid-seekers in a crowd of people waiting to receive aid from WFP trucks entering north Gaza at the Zikim crossing. As part of its tactical pause, the Israeli military also said that it designated secured corridors for aid convoys, coordinated with the UN and international organizations, to be maintained daily from 6 am to 11 pm. WFP also noted that Israel's latest commitment follows earlier assurances to allow more trucks into Gaza with quicker clearances and permit the use of alternative roads and routes, as well assurances of no armed forces or shootings near convoys and the ability of humanitarian organizations to import and use the communications equipment to coordinate deliveries. But the agency also stressed that 'an agreed ceasefire is the only way for humanitarian assistance to reach the entire civilian population in Gaza with critical food supplies in a consistent, predictable, orderly and safe manner.' Around 62,000 tons of food aid is required each month, the agency continued, warning that a third of Gaza's population is going days without food and that 470,000 people are facing 'famine-like conditions,' including 90,000 women and children in urgent need of nutritional treatment. Over the past 24 hours, six Palestinians, including two children, died from hunger and malnutrition, Gaza's Health Ministry said on Sunday. This brings the total number of starvation and malnutrition-related deaths in the strip to 133, including 87 children. Gaza's Government Media Office described the entry of a few dozen aid trucks as 'a limited step that does not suffice to break the famine,' stressing that the strip needs 600 trucks a day — including baby formula, humanitarian supplies and fuel — to meet the minimum needs of the population.' The office also noted that children in Gaza require 250,000 cans of formula per month to prevent infant malnutrition and starvation. Meanwhile, Jordan and the UAE airdropped 25 tons of aid on Sunday, following a prior airdrop conducted by the Israeli military comprising seven aid pallets of flour, sugar and canned food. Hamas described Israel's airdrops of aid as a 'superficial and deceptive move aimed at whitewashing its image before the world.' As the number of people killed by causes tied to malnutrition spiked over recent days, governments in Europe and the West increased calls for Israel to stop starving people in Gaza.