Luxor, Egypt – An Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission has announced the discovery of an ancient “sacred lake” within the Montu Temple precinct at the Karnak Temple Complex, a site renowned for its monumental heritage in southern Egypt.
The Discovery
The newly uncovered sacred lake lies west of the Maat Temple, dedicated to the goddess of harmony, justice, and truth. Measuring more than 50 square meters, the man-made reservoir is well-preserved and structurally defined. Notably, the lake had not been recorded in earlier archaeological archives, making the find particularly significant.
Together with the previously known sacred lake of the Montu Temple, the discovery creates a unique layout of two sacred lakes aligned north and south within the Karnak enclosure walls.
“The new finding fills a gap in Egyptology and Egyptian archaeological history. It is not only the discovery of a second sacred lake, but also the only sacred lake uncovered through systematic and scientific excavation in the history of Egyptian archaeology,” said Jia Xiaobing, the Chinese head of the project.
Ritual Significance
Sacred lakes were integral to ancient Egyptian temple architecture, serving as holy sources of water reserved exclusively for ritual use. They symbolized purity and were distinct from domestic water supplies.
Hend Aly, senior inspector at the Montu Temple, described the discovery as “something rare that crowned the hard work of the joint mission for eight years.”
Additional Finds
Excavations also revealed dozens of cow jaw remains and reused stone blocks linked to kings and the Divine Adoratrice from the Late Period (747–332 BC).
In the Osirian chapel area, archaeologists uncovered three chapels dedicated to Osiris, along with dozens of statuettes of varying sizes and materials, and fragments associated with the Divine Adoratrice.
The Divine Adoratrice of Amun, also known as the God’s Wife of Amun, was a priestess title held by royal women, often pharaohs’ daughters, who played a central role in temple rituals at Thebes. The new evidence provides valuable insights into the history of Thebes during the 25th and 26th Dynasties.
Scope of the Project
The Montu Temple site spans approximately 106,000 square meters, with 24,000 square meters enclosed within its precinct walls. Since 2018, the joint mission has excavated about 2,300 square meters, marking the first Egyptian-Chinese collaboration in archaeology.
The project is conducted by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, with support from the Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
A Dialogue Between Civilisations
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of Egypt’s antiquities sector and co-leader of the project, emphasized the broader cultural significance of the cooperation:
“The archaeological cooperation between China and Egypt is a collaboration between two ancient civilisations, conveying a message of dialogue, history and civilisations. I believe that the mutual understanding between peoples of the two countries is reflected in numerous cultural activities, benefiting Egypt, China, and the world.”
Conclusion
The discovery of the second sacred lake at Karnak’s Montu Temple not only enriches Egyptology but also symbolizes the fruitful collaboration between Egypt and China. As excavations continue, the mission promises to shed further light on the religious and cultural practices of ancient Thebes.
