Egypt | Uncovering the first and largest astronomical observatory dating back to the sixth century BC

Arab Weather - The ministry announced on its official Facebook page that the Egyptian archaeological mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, which is working in the "Buto" Temple in the Tell el-Faraeen area in Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate, north of Egypt, was able to discover the first and largest building of an astronomical observatory dating back to the sixth century BC.

The observatory was built of mud bricks and was used to observe and record astronomical phenomena, the movement of the sun and stars. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that this discovery highlights the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians in astronomy since ancient times.

Uncovering the first and largest astronomical observatory dating back to the sixth century BC

Khaled added that the discovery explains how the solar calendar and the dates of religious and official rites such as the coronation of kings were determined, in addition to the agricultural year. He pointed out that this observatory sheds light on the astronomical techniques used at that time, which enhances our understanding of the scientific and astronomical development of the ancient Egyptians.

Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the observatory discovered in the southwestern corner of the temple area as “the largest astronomical observatory discovered from the sixth century BC,” with an area of approximately 850 square meters.

Ashmawy pointed out that the observatory's design includes an entrance from the east, where the sun rises, and an open "L"-shaped colonnade, preceded by high mud brick walls. He added that a stone block was found fixed to the floor of a circular hall, along with two circular stone blocks to measure the sun's inclination.

The mission also found five mud brick rooms believed to have been used to store the building's tools, in addition to four small mud brick rooms and a small stone room representing the observatory tower.

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