An Astronomical Observatory Built in the 6th Century BCE Recently Discovered at the Buto Temple Complex in Egypt.
According to a press release from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the recently excavated ancient observatory is a structure made of mud bricks that was used to track the rising and setting of the sun, moon, and planets, as well as the phases of the moon.
This observatory features an L-shaped central hall constructed from mud bricks, resembling the entrances of the towers found at ancient Egyptian temples.
One of the artifacts from the ancient observatory in Egypt – (Image: EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ANTIQUITIES).
The site also includes a stone pedestal adorned with carvings depicting the astronomical alignment of the sun at sunrise and sunset throughout the seasons.
Inside, archaeologists also discovered a slanted stone sundial used to indicate time by utilizing the light or shadow cast by the changing position of the sun during the day.
The publication Heritage Daily quoted Mr. Ayman Ashmawy from the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, stating that the expedition also uncovered several high-value artifacts within the observatory.
These artifacts include a statue from the 26th Dynasty and a merkhet tool used by ancient Egyptians for measuring and timing.
Many religious and ceremonial artifacts were also found in the observatory.
This 2,600-year-old observatory was discovered during the excavation of the Buto Temple Complex located in the renowned archaeological site of Tell El Fara’in in Kafr El Sheikh Province, Egypt.
Tell El Fara’in was once an ancient city situated between the Bolbitine and Sebennytic branches of the Nile River.
The entire site was historically a ritual center dedicated to the goddess Wadjet, the patron deity of Lower Egypt.
Scholars indicate that this observatory is the largest known example of scientific and religious activities in ancient Egypt.