📜 Tell Abu Saifi in northern Sinai yielded a sandstone lintel inscribed on three sides with Ramesses II’s royal titles and a reference to restoring a statue of Horus, Lord of Mesen. Excavators announced the find in August 2025. The temple reached its greatest architectural development under the Ptolemies; in the 3rd century CE, parts of the complex were converted into a Roman military camp. The inscription strengthens, but does not conclusively confirm, the site’s identification as ancient Mesen.
New Ramesses II lintel supports Tell Abu Saifi as ancient Mesen
Site mentioned
📍 Sile Tell Abu Sayfi🌍 Show on the globe
Key facts
- Tell Abu Saifi (also spelled Tell Abu Sayfi), at Qantara East on Egypt's eastern side of Sinai, lies along the Ways of Horus and had previously yielded inscribed blocks referring to Horus of Mesen.
- In August 2025, excavators announced a sandstone lintel, broken into two pieces and inscribed on three sides, bearing Ramesses II's royal titles and referring to the restoration of a statue of Horus, Lord of Mesen.
- The temple at the site reached its greatest architectural development under the Ptolemies.
- In the 3rd century CE, parts of the temple complex were converted into a Roman military camp.
- The inscription strengthens, but does not conclusively confirm, the identification of Tell Abu Saifi as ancient Mesen.
Sources
New Discoveries Link Sinai Site with Lost Egyptian Cityarchaeology.org
New Discoveries Link Sinai Site with Lost Egyptian City. News August 19, 2026. Excavated wall and structure at Tell Abu Saifi, Sinai, Egypt.
Archaeologists may have found evidence pointing to ...jpost.com
Excavations at the Tell Abu Saifi archaeological site may have uncovered evidence of the lost Pharaonic city of Mesn, the Egyptian Tourism and ...
New archaeological discoveries in Sinaiegymonuments.gov.eg
Tell Abu Saifi site … uncovered remains of military fortifications, residential units for soldiers, and a trench,
Hidden fort, tree-lined road, and moat uncovered at ancient ...archaeologymag.com
Archaeologists uncover a massive ancient fortress in Tell Abu Saifi in Egypt's Sinai Desert, revealing tree-lined roads, soldier quarters, ...
Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of Ancient Tree-Lined ...smithsonianmag.com
The fortress, which was discovered decades ago, is located within the archaeological site of Tell Abu Saifi in Egypt's northern Sinai Desert.
New Tell Abu Seify finds illuminate Egypt's Ancient Horus ...english.ahram.org.eg
Among the most significant finds is a large sandstone lintel, broken into two pieces and inscribed on three sides with the titles of King ...
Archaeologists unearth tree-lined walkway that led to ...livescience.com
Located at the site of Tell Abu Saifi, the fortress was in use during the Ptolemaic period (circa 304 to 30 B.C.), when Ptolemy I — a ...
Abu Mahdhura (ra): The Kid Who Mocked Adhan | The Firstsyaqeeninstitute.org
As the Prophet ﷺ left the siege of Ta'if, a group of youth were making fun of the adhan. The Prophet ﷺ saw past their mockery and stuck to ...
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