On its Facebook page, Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has announced that an Egyptian archaeological mission working in Mit Rahina, 20km south of Cairo, discovered the remains of a massive building that spreads over a 17m x 14.5m site.
“The building discovered,” Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities explained, “was built of mud bricks supported by huge blocks of limestone. The foundations, external walls and inner staircase were built with red bricks.” The building was probably located in a residential area in Memphis, Egypt’s capital circa 3100, Mr Waziri said. Memphis was situated on the site of present-day Mit Rahina.
Head of the Central Department of Cairo and Giza antiquities, Adel Okasha, said that another building was found, annexed to the first on the southwest side. It includes, Mr Okasha said, a large Roman bath and a chamber that might have been used for performing religious rituals.
Inside the chamber, a limestone holder of offering vessels was found; one of its sides decorated with the head of the God Bes. The room also contains basins used for purification rites and small limestone columns.
The main building has an eastern entrance of limestone blocks, to the right of which another entrance leads to a hall 8m long and 170cm wide.
A room attached to the outer wall of the main building, at it’s northeast corner, was probably used by servants. It includes a baking tile oven similar to those used Egyptian villages to this day.
Watani International
29 September 2018