The Egyptian archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities has made a groundbreaking discovery at Tell el-Far‘un in Husseiniya, Sharqiya Governorate: a sandstone stela inscribed with a fully preserved hieroglyphic copy of the Canopus Decree, first issued by King Ptolemy III in 238 BC.
Originally proclaimed when Egypt’s high priests gathered at Canopus (east of Alexandria) to honor Ptolemy III, Queen Berenike II, and their daughter, the decree was distributed to major temples across the country. While other full and fragmentary copies have surfaced—most recently in 2004—this is the first complete, hieroglyph-only version found in over 150 years, making it one of the most important Ptolemaic finds to date.
A Discovery of National and Scientific Importance
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy hailed the find as proof that Egypt’s archaeologists “continue to add new pages to the history of our ancient civilization,” emphasizing Sharqiya’s rich but often overlooked heritage. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting missions across Egypt to ensure further breakthroughs.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, highlighted that this new copy significantly enriches our knowledge of Ptolemaic royal decrees and religious practices, opening fresh avenues for linguistic and historical research. It now joins six previously known copies discovered at sites including Kom el-Hisn, San el-Hagar, and Tell Basta. Unlike the familiar trilingual versions (hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek), this stela is inscribed entirely in hieroglyphs, offering unique insights into ancient Egyptian language and ritual.
Description of the Stela
According to Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, the sandstone stela features a rounded top, measuring 127.5 cm high, 83 cm wide, and 48 cm thick. At its summit, a winged solar disk flanked by two royal uraei wearing the White and Red Crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt frames the hieroglyph “di-ankh” (𓋹), meaning “He who is given life.” The main field displays 30 finely carved lines of hieroglyphic text.
What the Decree Records
Dr. Hesham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt, noted that the text celebrates the deeds of Ptolemy III and Berenike II, revered as the “Beneficent Gods.” It records:
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