Egypt archaeologists shed light on ancient religious practices at Hill of the Pharaohs

Tel El Farain is considered one of the most important ancient sites in the country

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  An incense holder adorned with the head of Horus, the ancient Egyptian deity. The piece was found at the Buto archaeological site in the Nile Delta in September 2021. All Photos by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

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  A collection of clay vessels unearthed at the Buto archaeological site in Egypt's Kafr El Sheikh province. They were used to make offering to the gods in Ancient Egypt.

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  A large limestone lintel with hieroglyphs carved into it. The lintel was unearthed at Egypt's Tel El Farain archaeological site.

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  A clay sculpture of Apis, the most important and highly regarded bull deity of ancient Egypt. The piece was found at the ancient site of the city of Buto in Egypt's Nile Delta.

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  A solid gold eye of Horus unearthed at Egypt's Tel El Farain. The eye was a talisman believed to bring prosperity and protection to its holder.

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  A limestone pillar adorned with the head of Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky, women, fertility and love. The pillar was among a varied cache of artefacts unearthed at Egypt's Tel El Farain archaeological site.

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  Two ivory reliefs uncovered at the Tel El Farain archaeological site in northern Egypt. The pieces depict scenes of women making offerings to the gods.

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  The remains of a Ptolemaic era bathhouse unearthed atop a hill at the Tel El Farain archaeological site in Egypt's Nile Delta.

Archaeologists at Tel El Farain in Egypt's Kafr El Sheikh governorate have uncovered ancient artefacts that include relics and other treasures that shine new light on religious practices in the Nile Delta.

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities on Saturday revealed the latest findings at the site, 95 kilometres east of Alexandria in Egypt’s Nile Delta.

Dr Mustafa Waziri, the council’s secretary-general, said the find was significant because it included artefacts that were used in daily rituals by the site’s residents, many of whom were reported to have revered the goddess Hathor, who ruled over the sky, women, fertility and love.

Although the site is known in Egypt as Tel El Farain – meaning Hill of the Pharaohs in Arabic – the ancient city is better known by its Greek name, Buto.

Buto is one of the country’s most prominent archaeological zones, and past missions unearthed a palace dating to the Second Dynasty, which lasted between about 2890 BC and 2686 BC, and six bath houses.

One of the most recent eye-catching artefacts is a solid gold eye of Horus, used as a symbol of prosperity by ancient Egyptians, who also believed it would provide them with protection.

An incense holder adorned with the falcon head of Horus was among the find’s most prominent pieces, the council said.

A limestone pillar topped with a carving of Hathor’s head and a number of incense holders made of faience were also among the treasures.

Small statues of the goddess Taweret, the protective goddess of childbirth and fertility, were also found at the site, along with a collection of gold flakes used to gild other artefacts.

Several clay vessels believed to be used to make offerings to Hathor during religious ceremonies were unearthed.

A fragment of a royal painting showing a king performing religious rites at Buto was found during the excavation work.

The artefacts were found buried in one of the highest mounds at Tel El Farain.

A large stone structure, believed to be a well used to store water for religious ceremonies, was also discovered buried in the hill. Nearby were the remains of a Ptolemaic-era bathroom, complete with a bathtub, a smaller basin, and a vessel used to heat water for baths.

Found near the bathroom was a rudimentary sewerage system which carried fresh water into the bath and took waste water away.