Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a long-lost 2,200-year-old temple thought to belong to Pharaoh Ptolemy IV.

A photo released by Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities shows the newly discovered tomb. PHOTO: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

The ancient tomb structure according to CNN report was accidentally found by construction workers during drilling on a sewage drain in the village of Kom Shakau in the Tama township in northern Sohag, according to a Facebook post made on September 29 by Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities.

Drilling work was suspended following the discovery. Archaeologists quickly found stone inscriptions with fragments of text featuring the name of Ptolemy IV, the fourth pharaoh of Egypt’s Ptolemaic dynasty.

The team has so far uncovered a north-south wall, an east-west wall and the southwestern corner of the limestone structure, which is engraved with carvings of Hapi, the Egyptian god of the annual flooding of the Nile, carrying offerings while surrounded by birds and flowers, CNN reported.

Experts are working to save what remains of the temple, which sits on the Nile’s western bank.

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Ptolemy IV is believed to have ruled Egypt from around 221 BC to 204 BC. His rule was not a successful one and he was more interested in frolicking and pursuing artistic endeavours than kingship.

Ancient texts indicate that the Pharaoh is said to have built the largest human-powered ship ever made. Called the tessarakonteres (“Forty”), the galley had 40 banks of oars, operated by 4,000 oarsmen.

The ancient temple’s discovery is the latest in a series of archaeological discoveries in 2019. Egypt is hoping to increase interest in tourism following the country’s uprising in 2011.

Vanguard News Nigeria.