An Egyptian archeological expedition at Gabal al-Haridi in the southern Suhaj region has found a checkpoint from the time of King Ptolemy III, who ruled from 246 BC. to 222 BC, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Monuments.
The discovery was made during excavations to search for the remains of a Ptolemaic temple.
The point is a brick building, similar to a tower, explained the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities Mustafa Waziri. It was designed to check and control traffic when crossing the border between two areas, collect taxes and ensure the protection of navigation on the Nile.
The nearby temple is dedicated to the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. The length of the building is 33 meters and the width is 14 meters, and its axis is located from north to south.
Archaeologists have found the remains of documents with the names, positions and salaries of workers, as well as the house of one of their leaders. Tombs from different periods have also been found, from the end of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Ptolemy III was one of the most powerful rulers of Egypt of this dynasty. Under his rule, the state expanded its territories and controlled major trade routes, and the capital, Alexandria, was one of the main cultural and commercial centers of Hellenism.
