Long-Lost Sun Temple Of King Nyuserre Discovered At Abu Ghurab, Egypt

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - A significant archaeological breakthrough has been made at the Abusir necropolis, where the Italian mission at Abu Ghurab has uncovered substantial remains of the Valley Temple associated with King Nyuserre’s solar complex.

Double statue depicting Nyuserre as both a young man and an old man, Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich. Credit: Einsamer Schütze - CC BY-SA 3.0

King Nyuserre Ini, a prominent ruler of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, inherited numerous unfinished projects from his predecessors—including incomplete pyramids and sun temples belonging to his father and brother. Upon ascending the throne, he was tasked with completing these structures while also constructing his own pyramid and those for his queens.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Nyuserre ultimately built his pyramid at Abusir, naming it Mensut Nyuserre (“Established are the places of Nyuserre” or “The places of Nyuserre endure”). His Sun Temple complex had remained lost to history until this recent discovery. The excavation team, led by Massimiliano Nuzzolo and Rossana Perilli from the Universities of Turin and Naples, has now revealed over half of this long-lost structure—a remarkable accomplishment in Egyptological research on sun temples.

The findings confirm that the newly uncovered remains form a monumental complex spanning more than 1,000 square metres. The site is notable for its distinctive architectural design, placing it among the most significant valley temples discovered in ancient Memphis. This discovery provides valuable insights into Old Kingdom temple construction and royal religious practices.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, has highlighted the recent discovery as a significant milestone in the study of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. This newly identified sun temple is only the second of its kind to be definitively located so far. The site was originally pinpointed by German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt in 1901; however, high groundwater levels delayed excavation efforts for over a century.

Recent archaeological work has successfully uncovered the temple’s entrance, which had been buried under nearly 1.2 metres of Nile silt. Key findings include the original floor, the base of a limestone column, and parts of a granite column believed to have formed part of the main entrance portico. Archaeologists also discovered segments of original stone casing lining the passage between the entrance and causeway, as well as several architectural elements—such as granite doorframes and lintels—that remain in their original positions.

According to researcher Nuzzolo, last season’s excavation revealed an intact quartzite gateway and remains of an internal staircase leading to the roof. These features suggest the presence of a secondary entrance in the northwestern sector of the temple. Current excavations have also exposed a sloping ramp that likely connected this structure to either the Nile or one of its ancient branches. Preliminary evidence indicates that this temple extends northward—a layout consistent with other royal complexes from Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty like King Sahure’s Valley Temple.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

In addition to architectural discoveries, archaeologists found various artefacts at this site—including two wooden pieces from Senet, an ancient Egyptian game considered an early precursor to modern board games such as chess.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Perilli reported the discovery of a large stone threshold inscribed with a hieroglyphic calendar that outlines the temple’s religious festivals and includes references to King Nyuserre. The archaeological team also uncovered finely carved limestone fragments and a significant amount of pottery dating from the end of the Old Kingdom to the early Middle Kingdom, with most artifacts originating from the First Intermediate Period.

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Initial findings indicate that after its use as a royal cult site ended, the temple was converted into a small settlement inhabited during the First Intermediate Period. This change provides valuable insights into daily life in Memphis during an era that is typically not well documented.

The Italian mission plans to continue excavations in future seasons, aiming to uncover more details about this important archaeological site and to deepen our understanding of how sun temples were developed and used in ancient Egypt.

Source: ‎Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer