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New secrets revealed in discovery at Heliopolis, Egypt's most ancient capital

Egyptian and German archaeologists have been working for 15 years to uncover the ruins of a city, the center of sun worship, in the Matariyyah region east of Cairo. This month, they revealed the remains of one of its temples belonging to King Nectanebo I.

Egyptian archaeologists work during restoration at the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2018.
Egyptian archaeologists work during restoration at the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2018. — Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images

CAIRO — The Egyptian-German archaeological mission operating at ​Matariyyah archaeological area announced Nov. 5 a new archaeological discovery. It consists of parts of the western and northern facade of the temple of King Nectanebo I (380-363 B.C.) located at the center of the Great Temple of Heliopolis at Matariyyah, east of Cairo.

Archaeologists say that the new archaeological discovery sheds light on more secrets related to the City of the Sun, Heliopolis, which is the most ancient capital in the world and most ancient religious, scientific and philosophical center, before Egypt coalesced around 3100 B.C.

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