New Discoveries at the Egyptian City of Imet

Archaeology Magazine ^ | June 24, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

According to a Colombia One report, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that British archaeologists from the University of Manchester made a slew of new discoveries in the Nile's eastern Delta. The team is working at the lost ancient city of Imet, which lies beneath the site of Tell al-Faraun, also known as Tell Nebesha, northeast of Cairo. Imet was an important residential center and a hub of trade and agriculture at the crossroads of key commercial routes. Excavations revealed tower-shaped, multilevel houses dating to the fourth century b.c. that were designed to accommodate large families or groups of workers. Archaeologists also uncovered parts of a temple dedicated to the cobra goddess Wadjet. Among the remarkable artifacts recovered were green faience ushabti figurines, a stone stela depicting the god Horus flanked by two crocodiles, and a bronze sistrum -- a musical instrument associated with the goddess Hathor that was used during sacred rituals. To read about Egyptians' method for measuring the Nile's annual flood, go to "The Ancient Promise of Water: The Limits of the Nile."

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: egypt; godsgravesglyphs; imet; newkingdom

[SunkenCiv]

Artifacts uncovered at Imet, including (clockwise from top left) a faience ushabti, a bronze sistrum, and a stone stela with an image of Horus

Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

[SunkenCiv]

[Redcitizen]

Imagine an Egyptian tv show called How Imet your mummy.

😬

[SunkenCiv]

Heh heh... get ready... here comes the old standard one...

“that would be perfect for those who aren’t wrapped too tight.”

[Beowulf9]

I wonder how they came up with these gods of theirs?

Was the Wadjet eye the reason they painted their eyes like that with Kohl? Did they think it protected them?

[Inyo-Mono]

More interesting articles from SunkenCiv! Keep them coming!

[No name given]

Most likely.

[Oscar in Batangas]

The towns’ names in the article reminded me of an old C&W song’s verse:

“Don’t telephone; don’t telegraph.
Tell a woman, and the word will get around”

[Adder]

the god Horus standing on crocodiles and holding snakes, flanked by the protective dwarf god Bes.

Horus needs protection? As in “You Bes leave dat bro alone”...

[SunkenCiv]

There’s a reference in Herodotus about how the Egyptians used crocodile dung (this is what the Egyptians told him) for *eye ailments*. In the de Selincourt translation there’s a footnote about this, noting that in modern times, croc poop is found to have a naturally occurring antibiotic. :^) My wild guess is, the Egyptians didn’t have any idea about antibiotics, and merely tried this because of reverence (fear) of the crocodile, and maybe superstitiously made the eye connection (which really seems to make no sense at all) because the crocs have eyes like periscopes while waiting like a submarine for an unsuspecting meal to come along.

[SunkenCiv]

Bes not mess with Bes.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks! There’s been a very nice stream of news lately, and I give most of the credit to “Archaeology” which has not only stepped up its game, but also seems to have wiped out any competition it had with other online arch/history aggregators, and the rest of the credit goes to other FReepers, RB in particular, for finding stuff and either posting it and pinging me or forwarding the links. Thanks to all who do!

[Red Badger]

Thanks! Somehow I just keep digging up stuff!..................

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Egyptians painted their eyes because they didn’t have sunglasses and the make-up had anti-bionics that kept down eye disease from Nile Water that carried all the illnesses of Africa—then as now. They would be wise to do it now as eye diseases are common in modern Egypt. So, yes, it did protect them.

[SunkenCiv]

...Somehow I just keep digging up stuff...