Starry secrets of the pharaohs: in Egypt found a giant observatory 2600 years old

Archaeologists have found the first and largest astronomical observatory from the 6th century BC at the Temple of Buto in the archaeological site of Tell el-Fara'in in Egypt's Kafr el-Sheikh province.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery on its social media page. The observatory was constructed from raw brick to monitor the movement of the sun and stars. This finding reflects the profound astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) in Egypt, emphasized the significance of the discovery:

“It demonstrates the advanced astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, particularly their ability to determine the solar calendar and important religious and agricultural dates.”

Ayman Ashmawy, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the structure of the observatory. According to him, the building covers an area of approximately 850 square meters. It features an entrance facing east, a central columned hall shaped like an “L,” and a massive high wall made of sun-dried brick that slopes inward, reminiscent of the architectural style of entrances to Egyptian temples.

Among the key discoveries is a rare sloped stone device known as a shadow clock. It consists of a series of straight limestone slabs measuring 4.80 meters long. Five flat limestone blocks—two horizontal and three vertical—were placed on top. These slabs likely had sloped lines used to measure shadows and the angle of the sun, enabling the tracking of the sun's movement throughout the day.

Archaeologists also uncovered a stone fixed to the floor of a circular chamber within the observatory, along with two additional round stones for measuring the sun’s angle. Additionally, a statue from the 26th Dynasty was found, along with a measuring instrument called a merkhet, various religious artifacts, and pottery related to daily life and rituals.

Source: Arkeonews