How Did the Ancient Greek Gods “Die”?
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A joint team of French and Egyptian archaeologists has uncovered a series of ancient tombs, storage rooms, and a rare educational structure known as the “House of Life” during excavations at the Ramseum Temple on Luxor’s west bank in Egypt. The discoveries offer new insight into how ancient Egyptians lived, learned, and honored the dead.
The graves, which date back to Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period, include burial chambers and deep wells. Inside, researchers found funerary items such as jars, tools, and pottery statues. Some tombs contained multiple coffins placed inside one another. Scattered human remains were also recovered.
The team also uncovered underground cellars and storerooms. Many were used to hold daily essentials such as olive oil, honey, animal fat, and wine. Dozens of wine jar labels were found, suggesting a system of organized storage and redistribution tied to temple life.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Archaeology, said that these findings offer a vivid picture of both the ceremonial and practical aspects of ancient life. They help us understand not just how people were buried but how they lived and managed resources.
One of the most significant discoveries came during recent excavation work inside the temple: a structure known as the “House of Life.” This was a type of school attached to major temples in ancient Egypt, where learning and recordkeeping took place.
The remains of the school included fragments of student drawings and small toys, providing the first physical evidence that education was part of daily life inside the Ramseum. Researchers were also able to map out the original design of the school, making it a rare and important find within the complex.
The discoveries were made near the mortuary temple of Ramses II, also called the “Million Year Temple” or Ramesseum. The site continues to yield insights into Egypt’s religious, social, and economic life during the New Kingdom period.
Dr. Hisham Alithi, head of the Egyptian side of the mission, said the team also uncovered traces of a once-busy storage and redistribution system. Goods kept at the temple were likely shared with residents and workers in the region, including craftsmen living under royal supervision.
Excavations confirmed the area was occupied before Ramses II built his temple. Over time, it was looted and later repurposed as a priestly burial ground. During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, it was used again, this time by quarry workers.
Dr. Hesham Leithy, Head of the Conservation and Documentation Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities and leader of the Egyptian contingent of the mission, explained that the team managed to rediscover the “Sahtab Ayb Ra” tomb located on the northwest side of the temple. Originally discovered by the English archaeologist Cayple in 1896 and dating back to the Middle Kingdom, the tomb features detailed wall scenes of the tomb owner’s funeral.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sharif Fathi praised the mission’s efforts, calling the discoveries of the house of life in Egypt a vital contribution to understanding the hidden layers of ancient life in Egypt.
The French-Egyptian team began work at the Ramseum in 1991. Now in its 34th year, the mission continues to uncover new chapters in Egypt’s ancient story.
