At Naga Al-Sheikh Hamad in Sohag governorate stands the renowned archaeological site of Atribis with its sprawling ancient Ptolemaic and Graeco-Roman temples, settlement, necropolis, quarries, churches, monasteries, and workshops.
Together, these elements make Athribis a cornerstone for archaeological research, a magnet for cultural tourism, and an essential landmark in the history of early Christian monasticism in Egypt.
Major excavations of the archaeological site were undertaken by UK Egyptologist William Flinders Petrie in 1906 and 1907, by the Egyptian Antiquities Authority in 1981-1997, and by an Egyptian-German mission in 2003-2012.
Athribis, unlike many of Egypt’s ancient cities, emerged relatively late in history. A temple lies to the west of the settlement, adjacent to mud-brick houses that remain unexcavated. Nearby on a hill overlooking the site are the Ptolemaic and Roman-period tombs of its former inhabitants, dating up to the fourth century CE. Above these tombs lie the limestone quarries that supplied the stone blocks used in constructing the city’s temples.
Among Athribis’ most remarkable monuments is the Temple of Ptolemy XII, later completed under the reigns of Roman emperors from Tiberius to Hadrian.
The temple was heavily damaged by an earthquake in antiquity, leading to its eventual collapse. Its inner sanctuary is encircled by 26 columns, a design unique in ancient Egyptian architecture, while the walls of the Holy of Holies feature vivid scenes depicting a procession of daily deities, each representing a day of the Egyptian calendar and carrying a hawk-headed vase surmounted by a solar disk.
To the west of this temple stands the Temple of Ptolemy IX dedicated to the worship of the god Min-Ra. Still largely buried under sand, its gateway, discovered in 1983, connects to the Temple of Ptolemy XII via a paved stone floor. The site also houses the rock-cut Temple of Asclepius dating to the end of the Ptolemaic period comprising a courtyard, a stone façade, and two halls carved into the cliff face.
Excavations have further revealed the remains of a Coptic Basilica on the southern side of the site featuring three longitudinal aisles separated by two rows of columns. Pottery finds suggest it dates to the fifth or sixth centuries CE.
Visitors can also explore an open-air museum showcasing architectural fragments from the temples, including sections of the façades, entrance remains, cornices, and Hathor-headed column capitals, all offering a tangible connection to the site’s layered history.
Among the distinguished monuments in Atribis is the Two Brothers Tomb, which was first documented more than 150 years ago and excavated by Petrie in 1906 and 1907.
The tomb belongs to Pemehyt and his sibling Ibpemeny, presumably astrologer priests and sons of the father Hornefer and the mother Tashret Horsegem. It is dated to the second century CE and consists of a square antechamber leading into a triangular-shaped burial chamber, which features a rectangular burial niche set into the western wall.
It is also known as the “Zodiac tomb” for its painted ceiling depicting two zodiac towers, each symbolising one of the deceased. The site is notable for its vivid astronomical scenes and richly ornamented funerary imagery.
A restoration project for the tomb was started one year ago to preserve its outstanding universal value, enhance the tourism experience by opening new tourist attractions, support local communities, and foster sustainable economic growth.
A team from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) conducted a full condition assessment before beginning the restoration work at the Tomb, according to internationally recognised standards.
According to Manal Al-Gannam, head of the Central Department for Conservation and Restoration at the SCA, the work included the mechanical and chemical cleaning of the walls and ceiling, consolidation of flaking pigments and plaster, and the reconstruction of missing sections using compatible materials.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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