13-07-2025
Sohag's 1,800-year-old Tomb of the Towers reopens to public after restoration - Ancient Egypt
The 1,800-year-old Roman-era Tomb of the Towers, known for its rare zodiac ceiling, has reopened to the public in the ancient city of Athribis, located in Nagaa El-Sheikh Hamad, west of Sohag, following a year-long restoration by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA).
The project is part of a broader national strategy to revive Egypt's cultural heritage and expand tourism offerings, particularly in Upper Egypt.
Dating to the second century AD, the tomb belonged to two brothers, Ip Pamani and Pa Mehyt, sons of Hor Nefer and Tashret Hor Segem. Known as the Tomb of the Towers for its painted ceiling depicting two zodiac towers—each symbolizing one of the deceased—the site is notable for its vivid astronomical scenes and richly ornamented funerary imagery.
The restoration covered both the antechamber and triangular burial chamber, which features a western wall burial niche. A team from the SCA conducted a full condition assessment before beginning work to restore the tomb according to internationally recognized standards.
The process, according to the head of the Central Department for Conservation and Restoration, Manal El-Gannamm, included mechanical and chemical cleaning of the walls and ceiling, consolidation of flaking pigments and plaster, and reconstruction of missing sections using compatible materials.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the SCA, praised the professionalism of the team and emphasized the council's ongoing commitment to documentation and conservation across Egypt. He described heritage preservation as a "national responsibility that requires coordinated and sustained efforts,' adding that projects like this transform heritage into an educational and developmental resource.
'These restoration projects are not only vital for preserving our heritage, but also for enhancing the tourism experience, supporting local communities, and fostering sustainable economic growth,' stated Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy.
The tomb was first documented more than 150 years ago and excavated by British archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie in 1906–1907.
Athribis itself, part of the ninth Upper Egyptian nome, is a key archaeological site that played a significant role in the region's late Ptolemaic history and the early development of monasticism. The sprawling site includes temples, cemeteries, quarries, industrial workshops, hermit cells, a convent, and a sixth-century church.
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