An archaeological mission has uncovered a complete Ptolemaic temple pylon at the western side of the main temple of Athribis in Sohag, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Tubingen announced.
The discovery by a joint Egyptian-German team is considered a “significant milestone” that will pave the way for further excavation at the temple site, a sizeable portion of which remains buried, said Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the supreme council's Secretary General.
"The facade of the pylon, which has been completely uncovered, is 51 metres wide, divided into two towers, each 24 metres wide, separated by the entrance gate," Dr Khaled said. The slope angle of the towers suggests the original height of the pylon could have been up to 18 metres, rivalling the dimensions of the Luxor Temple pylon.
The mission will continue its work at the site to uncover the entire temple during the next excavation seasons, with support from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, as per a directive issued by Sherif Fathi, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.
The Ptolemaic period in Egypt, from 305BCE to 30BCE, was a time when the country was ruled by a Greek dynasty founded by Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great's generals.
During this era, there was a significant blending of Greek and Egyptian cultures, demonstrated by the art, architecture and religious practices of the time. The Ptolemaic rulers adopted many Egyptian customs and portrayed themselves as pharaohs, while also introducing Greek language, art and culture to the region.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Central Administration for Upper Egypt Antiquities and head of the Egyptian side of the mission, revealed that during the cleaning of the main gate in the middle of the pylon, hieroglyphic texts decorating the exterior facade and interior walls were spotted, along with scenes depicting the king receiving Repyt, the lioness-headed goddess who served as the patron of Athribis Temple, and her son, the child god Kolanthes.
"Through studying the cartouches discovered at the entrance and on one of the interior sides, it was determined that this gate dates back to the reign of King Ptolemy VIII, who may have been the founder of the temple," Abdel Badie said. A cartouche bearing the name of his wife, Queen Cleopatra III, is also likely to be found among the texts.
Dr Christian Leitz, head of the team’s German contingent, said the mission had completed the uncovering of the temple’s southern chamber, which was previously discovered during the work of a British archaeological mission, led by the scholar Petrie, that excavated the site between 1907 and 1908.
The entrance to this chamber is decorated with hieroglyphic texts, and scenes representing the goddess Repyt and the fertility god Min surrounded by secondary celestial deities representing stars for measuring the hours of the night.
Dr Marcus Muller, the site’s director from the German side, said the archaeologists also uncovered a previously unknown room at top of a flight of stairs.
The room would have been accessible through a small entrance found on the exterior facade of the pylon. The team uncovered four steps of the staircase, which indicate that they led to an upper floor that has been destroyed, around 752CE, the team estimated.
The joint Egyptian-German mission has been working in the Athribis area for more than a decade, resulting in the complete excavation of all components of the main Athribis Temple, one of the most prominent heritage sites in Upper Egypt’s Sohag province.
Since then, the mission has accomplished a number of discoveries including one of more than 30,000 ostraca bearing Demotic, Coptic and Hieratic texts, as well as numerous archaeological findings.
Some of the most prominent discoveries from this period include the Rosetta Stone, which was instrumental in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Ptolemaic temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo, and the famous Library of Alexandria, which was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world.
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
