Plan to develop Sann al-Hagar area, home of famous Amon Temple
Egypt, History, 12/13/2001

The development of the archaeological sites of San Al Hagar (Tanis) in the governorate of Sharkia, one of the richest sites in obelisks, is a new project initialed by the Supreme Council for Antiquities.

Under the project Amon temple is to be restored to its former condition. The two obelisks now lying to the ground will be erected on the right and left side of the first pylon.

The two obelisks are exposed to damage due to salty land and humidity which are eroding the inscriptions and the stones themselves.

The loss of these obelisks would never be compensated. It is well-known that the two obelisks have an irresistible glamour for tourists.

The obelisks are inscribed from the four faces. The first obelisk is divided into two parts the upper part 10.80 metres and the lower 10.40 metres high.

The obelisk is 1.5 metres thick whereas the granite base is 2.4 metres wide.

The second obelisk is divided into two almost equal parts about 6.30 and 6.50 metres while the base is 80 cm high and two metres wide.

San Al Hagar lies northeast the governorate of Sharkia, 170 kilometers from Cairo. It is considered one of the important sites in the whole of Lower Egypt. Amon temple with its 22 obelisks is one of the main features of Tanis.

Head of Lower Egypt Antiquities Dr. Mohamed Abdul Maqsoud said that Tanis was the capital of the 21st dynasty and received great attention from the kings of the 22nd dynasty and the rest of the dynasties of the Late Age.

He added that Tanis was the linking point between Egypt and the outside world since it lied on the Tanisi branch of the Nile.

Tanis was entitled Thebes of northern Egypt because the kings of the 21st dynasty wanted it to stand on par with Thebes of southern Egypt. Tanis also embraces the second largest sacred lake next to the one at Karnak Temple in Luxor.

Moreover Tanis is considered the only site in Lower Egypt where royal tombs of magnificent mural paintings and funerary furniture are found.

However Tanis has a promising virgin archaeological hill occupying an area of 500 feddans. Once the hill is excavated the unearthed antiquities are expected to surpass monuments of entire Lower Egypt.

Previous Stories:
  Plan to reconstruct temple of Tel Bassta near Zagazig   (12/10/2001)
  Beheira needs museum to host antiquities heaped in its storehouses   (12/10/2001)
  Statue of Mut, goddess of motherhood, unearthed at Karnak   (12/10/2001)

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