Tell Atrib is the modern name for the Delta town site named Athribis
by the Greeks. Its ancient name was Hwt-hery-ib and it was once the
capital of the 10th Lower Egyptian nome. Ancient texts show that the
occupation of the site dates back to the early Old Kingdom, though
there are no remains from that period, or any inscriptions earlier
than Dynasty XII. In fact there are few surviving remains at all at
Athribis, which has been greatly reduced by local farmers removing
large quantities of sebakh (fertilizer from ancient mud-bricks) from
the area.
Tell Atrib has never been fully investigated. Its monuments were
probably scattered over the area and only a few remains have been
located. Texts suggest that there were temples dedicated to the god
Horus Khenty-khety who was sometimes depicted as a falcon-headed man
or a crocodile and was the most prominent deity of the area. Texts
also indicate that there was a temple built by Amenhotep III during
Dynasty XVIII, although nothing remains in situ. A statue of a lion
now in the British Museum (similar to a pair of lions from Soleb
inscribed with the cartouche of Amenhotep III) may have come from Tell
Atrib, but this was usurped by Rameses II, so its original location is
uncertain. Tell Atrib is known to have been the home town of the
important architect Amenhotep son of Hapu.
The earliest known temple at the site was built by Ahmose II (Khnemibre
or Amasis) of Dynasty XXVI, who is known to have forged many links
with other Mediterranean countries, especially Greece. The temple is
now too ruined to attempt a reconstruction, but foundation deposits
found here name the king. In 1924 a large cache of silver treasure
dating to the Late Period was found by farmers. This consisted of
about 50kg of silver in the form of ingots and jewellery (now in Cairo
Museum).
A large settlement and cemetery area of the Ptolemaic and Roman
Periods exists at Tell Atrib and many tombs have been uncovered by
local farmers. The tomb of Queen Takhut, wife of Psamtek II, was found
in the northern part of the site, along with other tombs of the Late
Period.
The site was a flourishing Roman town during the 2nd century AD and
canals, villas, and industrial buildings have been uncovered here as
well as a Ptolemaic bath-house. Temple areas dedicated to the cult of
Dionysus have been excavated recently, and a large number of statues
of Aphrodite suggest either a religious context or a sculptor's
workshop. Pottery workshops have revealed vessels decorated in a
combination of Egyptian and Greek designs as well as faience objects.
A Polish archaeological expedition has been working at Tell Atrib
since the Second World War. During the 1980s and 1990s, they excavated
parts of the post-pharaonic town and several temples dating to the
Graeco-Roman Period have been located. More recent work by the
Polish-Egyptian Mission to Athribis, led by Dr Karol Mysliwiek has
been engaged in rescuing the ancient site from the rapidly expanding
modern town. |
