discovery of the largest ancient city …

An Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered the “largest ancient city in Egypt” near Luxor in the south of the country, its director, former Minister of Antiquities and archaeologist Zahi Hawass, said Thursday. It dates from more than 3000 years before our era.

“The archaeological mission (…) discovered a buried city (…) which dates from the reign of King Amenhotep III and which continued to be used by King Tutankhâmon, that is to say 3000 years ago”, states the archaeological mission in a communicated.

Arrived on the throne in 1391 before our era, Amenhotep III died in -1353. Objects, including jewelry and pottery bearing his seal were discovered in the city, thus confirming the dating, it is specified.

It is “the largest ancient city in Egypt”, according to Mr. Hawass, quoted in the press release. The mission began its excavations in September 2020 between the temples of Ramses III and Amenhotep III near Luxor, about 500 km south of Cairo.

“The discovery of this lost city is the second most important archaeological discovery since the tomb of Tutankhamun,” said Betsy Brian, professor of Egyptology at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

It will notably allow “to offer us a rare glimpse of the life of the ancient Egyptians during the most prosperous hours of the (New) Empire”.