For the first time, the joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission working in the Esna Temple, some 485 miles of Cairo, has found a representation of the zodiac on the roof of the Column Hall.
The mission also uncovered never-seen-before views of gods and animals during the restoration of the temple in its original colours.
Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziry said the scenes were not included in documentation by French Egyptologist Serge Sauneron (1927-1976).
“This will add a new importance to this temple and its unique inscriptions,” he said.
“It will greatly contribute to increasing the flow of Egyptian visitors and tourists and encourage them to visit the temple to enjoy seeing these unique astronomical scenes, especially since there is no complete representation of the view of the constellations in ancient Egypt except for two examples in the Dendera Temple in Qena Governorate,” he added.
Hisham el-Leithi, head of the mission from the Egyptian side, said the zodiac depicts the twelve constellations from Aries to Pisces, in addition to the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.
Christian Leitz, head of the mission from the German side, said that the team found scenes depicting Egyptian deities and animals, including snakes and crocodiles, plus mythological creatures such as a snake with a ram’s head or a bird with a crocodile’s head, a snake’s tail and four wings.
