Egyptian archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery: a complete, previously unknown version of the renowned Canopus Decree, issued by King Ptolemy III in 238 BC.
The find was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) in Tell al-Fara’in (ancient Imet), near the city of Husseiniya in Sharqiya governorate.
This is the most significant discovery of its kind in over 150 years, because no complete new version of the decree has been found since mid-19th century. The original text of the decree was composed when senior priests convened at Canopus near Alexandria to honour King Ptolemy III, Queen Berenice, and their daughter.
The decree’s text was intended to be distributed to major temples across ancient Egypt.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy noted that this discovery sheds light on the rich archaeological heritage of Sharqiya, a region still surprising the world with its hidden treasures.
The ministry, he said, will remain committed to supporting archaeological missions to provide an optimal environment for future discoveries.
The Secretary General of the SCA, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, underscored the importance of this find, pointing out that this is a full, previously unknown version of the Canopus Decree, uncovered more than 150 years after the last one.
This addition is expected to deepen our understanding of royal and religious texts from the Ptolemaic period, enhancing knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and language, he added.
The newly discovered sandstone stela is 127.5 cm tall, 83 cm wide, and boasts a thickness of 48 cm. The top is arched and adorned with the winged sun disk and two regal cobras, bearing the white and red crowns, separated by the phrase “di ankh” (“he lives”). The main panel holds 30 lines of Hieroglyphic inscription, carved with moderate precision.
The decree details the achievements of Ptolemy III and Queen Berenice – described as “the good gods” – such as donations to temples, the maintenance of domestic peace and tax relief following low Nile floods.
