Archaeologists unearth complete Roman city in Luxor

An 1,800-year-old complete residential city from the Roman era in Luxor have been discovered by an Egyptian archaeological mission , Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Tuesday.

Moustafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and who led the Egyptian mission, said  in a statement that archaeologists found a number of residential buildings, two pigeon towers – a structure used to house pigeons or doves – and a number of metal workshops.

Archaeologists also found Roman workshops for the manufacture and smelting of metals, where the team found pots, grinding tools, pottery and coins made from copper and bronze.

The excavation work that resulted in the discovery of the city began in September 2022, according to the statement.

Previous excavations in the area before then unearthed a number of Byzantine relics, more Roman coins, a part of a wall and an old storehouse dating back to the Roman period.

Luxor was the ancient city of Thebes, the great capital of Upper Egypt during the New Kingdom.

The Ancient Greeks called the city Thebai, which the Romans adapted to Thebae, using the Temple of Luxor and its surroundings as a legionary fortress and the seat of Roman administration for the region.

 

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