A Unique Religious Structure at Tell el-Farama Highlights North Sinai’s Strategic and Cultural Importance
After six years of archaeological excavations at Tell el-Farama, the site of ancient Pelusium in North Sinai, an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities has uncovered the remains of a distinctive religious structure dedicated to the local deity of Pelusium.
Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, expressed his satisfaction with the discovery, noting that it highlights the strategic and archaeological significance of North Sinai. He emphasized that the region remains rich with promising sites that continue to hold untapped historical secrets. He also affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ongoing excavations and scientific studies at the site, contributing to both academic research and broader human knowledge.
Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the discovery as highly significant, as it sheds new light on the status of Pelusium and its pivotal role in the transmission and influence of religious and cultural ideas across the ancient world.
He further explained that the temple remains reveal a unique architectural design that combines ancient Egyptian traditions with both Hellenistic and Roman styles, offering a rare and tangible example of cultural interaction between Egypt and the wider Mediterranean world.
According to Mohamed Abdel Badie, the surviving remains of the structure include a massive circular basin measuring approximately 35 meters in diameter. This basin was connected to the Pelusiac branch of the Nile and was filled with water carrying Nile silt, symbolically linked to the local deity of Pelusium. The name of the city itself derives from the Greek word pelos, meaning “mud,” reflecting this symbolic association.
Surrounding the basin is an integrated system of water channels designed for drainage, while at its center stands a square base, likely intended to support a large statue of the deity. Archaeological layers at the site indicate continuous use of the structure from the 2nd century BCE through the 6th century CE, with only limited architectural modifications over time.
Hisham Hussein, who oversees the mission, explained that the discovery of this structure began in 2019, when the team uncovered no more than 25% of a circular red-brick building. At the time, it was initially interpreted as a possible city council or senate building.
However, continued excavations in subsequent seasons revealed the full extent of the structure, demonstrating that it is in fact a large and complex architectural installation. At its core lies a circular courtyard measuring approximately 35 meters in diameter, surrounded by water channels and reservoirs, with multiple entrances from the east, south, and west. The northern side, however, has suffered significant destruction.
The research team conducted extensive field studies alongside comparative analysis with similar architectural models from the Hellenistic and Roman periods outside Egypt.
Following a series of scholarly discussions with international specialists, including Jean-Yves Carrez-Maratray of the Sorbonne University, the interpretation of the structure was revised. It is now confirmed that the building could not have functioned as a civic council hall, but rather represents a sacred hydraulic installation associated with religious ritual practices.
