Discovering The Ruins of Zeus-Kasios Temple at Tell El-Farama in North Sinai

The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the site of Tell El-Farama (Pelusium) in north Sinai discovered the ruins of a temple dedicated to Zeus-Kasios (a conflation of the Greek gods Zeus and the weather-god Kasios) during the excavation work as a part of Sinai development project 2021-2022.

Dr. Mostafa Waziry said “The discovered temple is located approximately 200 meters to the west of Pelusium citadel and 100 meters to the south of the church at the site.”Dr. Waziry added “The location of the temple has been determined based on the archaeological features of the remains of a gigantic gate collapsed in antique times as a result of an earthquake hit the town. The gate consists of two huge Aswan granite columns measuring 8 meters height and 1 meter thickness as well as a granite threshold at the top of the gate.”

Dr. Aiman Ashmawi said “The team discovered for the first time the remains of the mud brick temple which is constructed on a high platform of rubble and broken stones. Its roof holds pink granite columns. The temple entrance was at the east and it was accessible through an elevated ramp covered in granite.”

Dr. Ashmawi referred to the French archaeologist J. Cledat who worked at the site from 1909 to 1913 for the Suez Canal company survey and deduced the existence of the temple based on late Greek inscriptions on thresholds mentioning the temple but he didn’t find it then. Dr. Nadia Khedr said “many huge granite blocks were found in the streets around the temple location which is an indication that the site was used as a quarry at later times and some of its parts were reused in the construction of the churches in Tell El-Farama including the Corinthian columns crowns used in the church located to the top of the temple.”

Dr. Hisham Hussein (General director of Sinai Antiquities) said “The study of the discovered blocks, documentation and photogrammetric mapping is ongoing to be able to digitally reconstruct the closest architectural elements of Zeus-Kasios temple. This season the Egyptian team re-found the threshold discovered over a century ago by J. Cledat as well as discovered never-known-before pink granite blocks with Greek inscriptions. Studying both, it turns out the texts complete each other and refer to Emperor Hadrian who ordered new additions to the Zeus-Kasios temple in Pelusium and Egypt was ruled by Praefect Titus Flavius Titianus.” #Egypt#Sinai#GreekArchaeology#RomanEmpire#Archaeology#Egyptology