Remnants of Pharaonic temple and Roman church drowned in the Nile in Aswan

Egypt State Information Service

Part of Khnum Temple in Elephantine Island to the second side of "Cataract" Hotel in Aswan city was discovered 40 meters deep under the Nile water, Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary General Zahi Hawwas said Thursday 3/4/2008.

The Egyptian archaeological mission also unearthed part of a church and two granite columns, Hawwas said during a cultural salon at the Cairo Opera House.

Hawwas said that the Egyptian archaeological mission, formed by Culture Minister Farouq Hosni to excavate tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, would soon announce the discovery of a new tomb in the coming excavation season.

He estimates that there are no less than 63 royal tombs still buried in the area.