Through the work of a joint archaeological mission, a new section of the Edfu Temple in Upper Egypt revealed never-before-seen original hieroglyphic inscriptions and colored carved scenes written by priests in demotic script. This joint mission, carried out by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and Germany’s University of Würzburg, focused on the restoration of the temple’s ceiling, which was dedicated to the temple of the falcon-headed god Horus. The restoration project, funded by the German Gerda Henkel Foundation, has been underway since 2021 and aims to preserve and enhance the ancient temple’s historical value. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, praised the efforts to remove the layers of buildup dirt that had covered these sites for decades and highlighted the processes involved in reviving these colors to their original state. Traces of golden hues used to gild raised inscriptions were found, including depictions of royal jewelry, emblems, and depictions of deities. “The gilding of the figures presumably not only served to symbolically immortalize and deify them but also contributed to the mystical aura of the room. It must have been very impressive, especially when the sunlight was shining in,”…
Restoration Brings Edfu Temple’s Ancient Colors Back to Life
September 16, 2024
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
