More re Sinai discoveries

drhawass.com

With two photographs.

This article seems to make it clear that instead of four separate sites the discovery is one site, a temple, which includes for different hall components - which actually makes rather more sense.

Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni announced today that an archaeological mission sponsored by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has discovered the remains of a large New Kingdom temple in the area of Tell Hebua in the Sinai. Excavators have found inscriptions in the temple dating to the reign of Thutmose II (ca. 1516-1504 BC) through that of Ramesses II (1304-1237 BC).

Dr. Hawass, Secretary General of the SCA, described the discovery as one of the most important ever made in the Sinai. It is the largest temple known in the region, which was heavily fortified in ancient times because of its strategic location on Egypt’s eastern border. The temple covers an area of some 80 by 70 meters. It is built of mud brick, and surrounded by a 4 meter-thick wall. It consists of four rectangular halls containing a total of 34 columns decorated with images of ancient Egyptian deities, including Horus, Hathor, Tefnut, Montu, and Renenutet. The temple also contains images of Thutmose II and Ramesses II.

Zahi Hawass said that early studies of the temple indicate that it was an important religious center for Egypt’s eastern border region.

Egypt State Information Service

Culture Minister Farouk Hosni declared that a Supreme Council of Antiquities mission has discovered in North Sinai four Pharaonic temples dating back to the 18th and 19th dynasties in the Modern Kingdom which started with the rule of Tuhutmos II.

A Supreme Council of Antiquities mission made the discoveries four kilometers east of the Suez Canal in the area now known as "Tel Hebwa", SCA Secretary General Zahi Hawwas said Tuesday.

He called it one of the biggest archaeological finds to be ever made in Sinai.

One of the temples discovered is fortified, said Hawwas, adding that it is built of adobe and consists of four rectangular halls standing on 34 pillars.

This temple has engravings depicting Egyptian gods and goddesses, such as “Horus", "Geb", "Re-Horakhty", "Hathor", "Tefnut" and "Montu", Hawwas said.

Kings Tuhutoms II and Ramsis II were also inscribed on the walls of the temple, which speaks volumes about its archaeological worth, the SCA official said.

But this is not where the fascination ends, Hawwas said, adding that visitors to the temple will find the paintings on the walls still retaining their brilliant colors.

There are also three limestone tubs and a number of podiums for the gods, he added. It is the only adobe temple of the Modern Kingdom to be discovered in Sinai, a proud Hawwas said.