Egypt unveils Graeco-Roman era building in North Sinai

An Egyptian archaeological mission unearthed on Wednesday a Graeco-Roman huge building made of red brick and limestone in the province of North Sinai, the country's Antiquities Ministry said in a statement.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

"The building was most probably used as a headquarters for the Senate Council of Pelusium, one of the North Sinai's old cities," said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

The initial studies conducted on the architectural planning and the construction of the building indicated that it was used to hold meetings for the citizens' representatives during the rule of the Ptolemies and Romans for taking important decisions about the public affairs of the city and its citizens, Waziri said.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, said the 2,500-square-metre building shaped from outside as a rectangular, with circular terraces and a main gate located in the eastern side.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

He pointed out that the interior design of the building consists of the remains of three 60 cm-thick circular benches which were built of red brick and covered with marble. The mission also uncovered the main streets of Pelusium city, Ashmawy added.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

He explained that during the fifth and sixth century AD, the building was used as a quarry where the stones, bricks and columns were extracted from their original places for use in the construction of other buildings in the city.

Source: Xinhua News Agency [July 31, 2019]