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Last update - 16:20 23/04/2009
3,000-year-old arms storehouse uncovered in Sinai
By Ran Shapira and the Associated Press
Tags: Egypt, Israel News 

Archaeologists exploring an old military road in the Sinai have unearthed four new temples amidst the 3,000-year-old remains of an ancient fortified city that could have been used as a stronghold during the Egyptian occupation of Mesopotamia and Canaan, and to impress foreign delegations visiting Egypt, antiquities authorities announced Tuesday.

Archaeological findings have determined that a series of fortresses were built in the area and were used as weapons storehouses for soldiers traveling northwards. One source, a wall painting found in the Karnak temple in Luxor, depicts 11 strongholds built in northern Sinai

Among the discoveries was the largest mud brick temple found in the Sinai with an area of 70 by 80 meters (77 by 87 yards) and fortified with mud walls 3 meters (10 feet) thick, said Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
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The find was made in Qantara, 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) east of the Suez Canal. These temples mark the latest discovery by archaeologists digging up the remains of the city on the military road known as "Way of Horus." Horus is a falcon-headed god, who represented the greatest cosmic powers for ancient Egyptians.

The path once connected Egypt to Palestine and is close to present-day Rafah, which borders the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Archaeologist Mohammed Abdel-Maqsoud, chief of the excavation team, said the large brick temple could potentially rewrite the historical and military significance of the Sinai for the ancient Egyptians.

The temple contains four hallways, three stone purification bowls and colorful inscriptions commemorating Ramses I and II. The grandeur and sheer size of the temple could have been used to impress armies and visiting foreign delegations as they arrived in Egypt, authorities said.

The dig has been part of a joint project with the Culture Ministry that started in 1986 to find fortresses along the military road. Hawass said early studies suggested the fortified city had been Egypt's military headquarters from the New Kingdom (1569-1081 B.C.) until the Ptolemaic era, a period lasting about 1500 years.

In a previous find, archaeologists there reported finding the first ever New Kingdom temple to be found in northern Sinai. Studies indicated the temple was built on top of an 18th Dynasty fort (1569-1315 B.C.).

Last year, a collection of reliefs belonging to King Ramses II and King Seti I (1314-1304 B.C.) were also unearthed along with rows of warehouses used by the ancient Egyptian army during the New Kingdom era to store wheat and weapons.

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    3,000-year-old arms storehouse uncovered in the Egyptian peninsula of Sinai
      1.   Three thousand year-old arms storehouse uncovered in Sinai 14:26  |  Kieran 23/04/09
      2.   3000 Years wooow ! 15:14  |  Sun Tzu 23/04/09
      3.   Probably an abandoned Palestinian arms cache used by Hamas 15:14  |  American in NY 23/04/09
      4.   Egyptian occupation of Mesopotamia? 16:23  |  17 23/04/09
      5.   Now we have proof that the Palestinians 16:34  |  Schmidlap 23/04/09
      6.   Schmidlap #5 17:44  |  Mickey 23/04/09
      7.   #5 scmidlap the name palestina did not exist until 100o years l 17:58  |  v hardman 23/04/09
      8.   The first 5 responders - 18:02  |  English Resident 23/04/09
      9.   Arms cache 18:05  |  JW 23/04/09
      10.   What a find 03:48  |  johnny2bad4u 24/04/09
      11.   Schmidlap - READ the artilce! 19:56  |  Arie 24/04/09
      12.   Ptolemaic era, a period lasting about 1500 years. 23:32  |  Lord Bozo 24/04/09
      13.   TIMEWARP 02:01  |  JoJmnz144 25/04/09
      14.   exodus 02:09  |  JoJmnz144 25/04/09
      15.   Not the same people 10:59  |  ricardo levy 25/04/09
      16.   The path once connected Egypt to Palestine? 16:26  |  Boris 25/04/09
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