A sandstone stela inscribed entirely in hieroglyphs has been unearthed at the site of Tell El-Faraun, in the city of Husseiniya, Sharqiya Governorate. The slab, dating to 238 BC, records a decree issued by priests in the city of Canopus in honour of King Ptolemy III, his wife Berenice, and their daughter.
The find has been hailed as the most significant of its kind in more than 150 years. Until now, only six versions of the Canopus Decree were known—some complete, others fragmentary—discovered at sites including Kom El-Hisn, Tanis, and Tell Basta.
Unlike earlier examples, which were inscribed in three scripts—hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek—this newly discovered stela is written solely in hieroglyphs, offering scholars a rare opportunity to study the decree in its most elevated, sacred form.
“This discovery adds a new chapter to our understanding of Egypt’s history and heritage,” said Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. “It also highlights the archaeological importance of Sharqiya, a governorate that still holds treasures capable of astonishing the world.”
“To uncover a complete and new version of the Canopus Decree after more than a century and a half is remarkable,” asserted Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. “It will deepen our knowledge of royal and religious texts from the Ptolemaic era and enrich our understanding of the Egyptian language and culture of the time.”
The stela measures 127.5 cm in height, 83 cm in width, and nearly 48 cm in thickness. Its rounded top features a winged sun disk flanked by two cobras wearing Egypt’s White and Red Crowns, with the inscription “Di-Ankh” (“given life”) between them.
The central panel is filled with 30 lines of hieroglyphic text carved in sunk relief.
According to Hisham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt, the text celebrates King Ptolemy III’s religious and political achievements. These include donations to temples, safeguarding domestic stability, reducing taxes during years of poor Nile floods, creating a new priestly rank in his and Berenice’s names, and instituting a festival marking the heliacal rising of the star Sirius.
Of particular note, the decree refers to the leap-year system—adding one day every four years—a reform centuries ahead of its time.
The discovery further underscores the importance of Tell El-Pharaeen—ancient Imet—as a key urban centre in the Nile Delta. Excavations at the site have previously revealed temples, elite residences, and a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Wadjet.
“With this latest find, Egypt continues to demonstrate the enduring richness of its archaeological landscape,” Hussein said. “New revelations still emerge from beneath the sands, shedding light on the rituals, language, and politics of the ancient world.”
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