Ancient Sun Temple Unearthed at Abu Gurab, 4,500 Years After It Was Built

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a lost Egyptian temple built about 4,500 years ago to honor the sun god Ra. The site sits at Abu Ghurab, roughly nine miles south of Cairo and five miles west of the Nile. The structure, described by the government as a large valley temple, was built under Pharaoh Nyuserre Ini of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. The temple’s roof is believed to have served astronomical observation, and blocks bear a public calendar of religious events carved into their surfaces.

Excavations that began in 2024 by an Italian‑led team have revealed more than half of the temple, including the entrance floor and the remains of a circular granite column that likely formed part of the entrance’s porch. Work has also uncovered portions of the original stone cladding on the corridor walls, along with granite shingles and several doors. The site’s identification dates to 1901, when German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt noted the location, but groundwater levels prevented earlier excavations.


Archaeologists say the northwestern sector holds an internal staircase leading to the roof, suggesting a secondary entrance, and a slope that presumably linked the temple to the Nile or one of its branches. While the roof most likely supported stargazing and astronomical readings, it was not used for the temple’s festival celebrations, according to the expedition’s co‑director.

The lower level appears to have functioned as a landing stage for boats approaching from the Nile or a side channel. The site has yielded a distinctive trove of artifacts as well, including two wooden pieces from the ancient Senet game, which resembles a precursor to chess. Wall fragments with hieroglyphs and shards of pottery also survive from the site.

Nyuserre Ini was the sixth king of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, who reigned around 2450 BC. He is best known for building the Sun Temple at Abu Gurab and his pyramid complex at Abusir. The Fifth Dynasty is known for sun temples and a period of relative peace and artistic innovation, roughly 150 years. The ministry notes that the sun temples became a hallmark of the dynasty and that hieroglyphic calendars provide insight into religious life.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the temple’s sanctuary later became a dwelling and may have been repurposed into a small local settlement after being buried by Nile sediment. The ministry emphasized that the excavation team plans further work in coming seasons to reveal more about the temple’s origin and evolution among the Sun Temples in ancient Egypt.

Experts say the Abu Gurab discovery offers a clearer picture of the valley temple network linked to Ra worship and the living landscape of the Nile valley. The ongoing project, led by Italian archaeologists, seeks to illuminate how these temples shaped religious life and daily practice in the Old Kingdom.