Observatory from the 6th century BC was discovered in Egypt

Archaeologists announced the discovery of an ancient astronomical observatory during excavations at the archaeological site of Tell El Farain in the Egyptian governorate of Kafr El Sheikh, writes varna24.bg.

Tell El Fara'in is located between the Taly and Thermuthiac branches of the Nile, a few kilometers north of the east-west Butic River, along the southern shore of Lake Butic.

The city was a ceremonial center in the dedication of the goddess Wadget, matron and protector of Egypt. Since 2017, archaeologists have been excavating the remains of Buto Temple, where they recently discovered an ancient astronomical observatory from the 6th century BC.

According to a press statement by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the observatory is a mud brick structure that was used to observe and record the astronomical movements of celestial bodies, Heritage Daily reported.

Temple astrologers were particularly adept at observing the stars, tracking the conjunctions and risings of the Sun, Moon, and planets, and observing the phases of the moon. Astronomy also plays an important role in establishing the dates of religious holidays and determining the hours of the night.

The observatory features an L-shaped central hall constructed of mud bricks, resembling the pylon entrances of ancient Egyptian temples. It features a stone platform decorated with engravings that depict the astronomical alignments of sunrise and sunset through the seasons.

In the interior, archaeologists also discovered a tilted stone sundial (known as a shadow clock), which tells the time by using a spot of light or shadow cast by the position of the Sun.

Ayman Ashmawi of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector said the mission also found several artefacts, including a statue from the 26th Dynasty, a merkhet measuring tool and various religious objects and ceramics related to daily life and rituals.

According to the researchers, the observatory is the largest known example that provides new insights into scientific and religious practices in antiquity.