Monday, 01 June 2026
Egypt uncovers rare Aphrodite head south of Cairo
Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered a trove of ancient treasures spanning thousands of years at the Ihnasya el-Medina site, including a rare marble head of the Greek goddess Aphrodite and a pharaonic cartouche, the tourism ministry announced Sunday.
The discoveries, made by an Egyptian mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Beni Suef province south of Cairo, shed new light on the city's religious and strategic importance from pharaonic times through the Greco-Roman eras.
Among the most significant finds is a reused stone block featuring a prominent relief of King Senusret III, a powerful 12th Dynasty pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom, bearing both his coronation and birth names.
"The discovery of a cartouche bearing the name of King Senusret III is highly significant," said Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. "It confirms the sacred status of the city and the attention given to it by Middle Kingdom monarchs."
The mission also uncovered a second cartouche dedicated to "Osiris Naref," a major local deity revered in the region during ancient Egyptian and Ptolemaic times.
Further excavations at the site revealed the architectural evolution of the city, exposing extensions of a Roman basilica and the remains of an ancient Doric temple.
According to Mohamed Abdel-Badi, head of the ancient Egyptian antiquities sector, early studies show that the heavy stone elements of the older Doric temple were repurposed during the 6th century AD to serve as a sturdy foundation for the basilica.
"Builders of the basilica re-arranged the stone blocks irregularly to form a powerful base capable of supporting massive columns, some weighing around 45 tonnes, three of which remain standing in their original positions," Abdel-Badi said.
Originally used in the Greco-Roman era as public buildings for administrative and commercial meetings, basilicas in Egypt were later converted into churches during the early Christian period.
The mission also unearthed a rare, finely detailed marble head of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, measuring 24 by 25 centimeters (9.4 by 9.8 inches). Experts highlighted its intricate classical features, notably the delicate execution of the facial structure and curly hair.
Additionally, archaeologists found fragments of wall statues and clay coin molds dating back to the Roman period, pointing to the city’s enduring economic prosperity.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy praised the discoveries as a "vital scientific and archaeological addition" that underscores Egypt’s diverse cultural layers. He added that the ministry is actively developing such historical sites to diversify the country's vital cultural tourism sector.
Located around 115 kilometers (71 miles) south of Cairo, Ihnasya el-Medina holds a storied place in Egypt's history. It served as the capital of Egypt during the 9th and 10th Dynasties and remained a flourishing hub into the Greco-Roman era, when it was known as Herakleopolis Magna—the Great City of Heracles.