Discovery Of 3,400-Year-Old Lost Ancient Egyptian City As Important As Discovery Of Tutankhamen’s Tomb

A discovery made near Luxor, Egypt, in September 2020 has been announced in April. Archaeologists shared details of the discovery with the world, elaborating the importance of the find.

The site which is known as the “Dazzling Aten” is a well-preserved ancient industrial metropolis that was ruled by Amenhotep III and multiple pharaohs after him. Given the condition of the site, it can reveal why Amenhotep III’s son Akhenaten abandoned it during his reign. As archeologists continue to explore the discovery more details continue to be unearthed.

The find was an unintentional one by archeologists. The site is between the mortuary of Amenhotep III and Ramses III. Archeologists had been hoping to find the mortuary temple of Tutankhamen in the area where the metropolis was found.

In the city with zigzagging mudbrick walls up to nine feet high, archeologists found a hoard of well-preserved artifacts. Based on hieroglyphs on certain artifacts, archeologists dated the settlement to the reign of Amenhotep III between 1386 and 1353 B.C. Betsy Bryan, a professor of Egyptian art and archaeology at Johns Hopkins University, told National Geographic that multiple items also had Akhenaten’s name on them. This indicated that the city was populated during the joint rule of Amenhotep III and Akhenaten towards the end of the father’s reign.

It is believed that the city was left unoccupied when Akhenaten started worshiping the Sun God and moved the kingdom’s capital from Thebes. However, archeological evidence shows that the city was repopulated after Tutankhamen inherited the throne after Akhenaten’s death.

Speaking to Lonely Planet, Peter Lacovara, director of Ancient Egyptian Heritage and Archaeology Fund, said the city was like Egypt’s Pompeii. Just like one can walk down the well-preserved city of Pompeii, one can meander through the newly discovered ancient Egyptian city.

The discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb had been a major find. This was because other tombs belonging to pharaohs had been left devastated by tomb raiders. Tutankhamen’s tomb had remained unscathed by the grave robbers as it was not found.

Similarly, the Dazzling Aten remains perfectly preserved for archeological study. From everyday items to a stone-cut burial site, the city holds a glimpse into the everyday life of ancient civilization. Four distinct layers of the settlement show that the area was inhabited well into the Coptic Byzantine era. Archeologists believe that they have merely scratched the surface of what the city has to offer.