The Expedition - 3. Chapter 3

It was hard to concentrate on teaching, knowing that the excavation in Egypt was still going on. Mostafa kept Mahmoud and me updated on the progress of the dig by sending us photos. That only increased our impatience, knowing what was going on at the dig and not being there.

Mahmoud and I would call Mostafa upon receiving the photos, discussing the images over the phone. We would agree on the next steps. This helped, but as an archeologist, I wanted to be there.

In November, the photos showed what was a possible building. I phoned Mostafa. “Mostafa, these latest pictures show a large portion of a wall. I think the wall will extend around whatever that dark spot on the LIDAR is showing. I suggest you have the men concentrate on uncovering that wall. Once the wall is uncovered, we can get an idea of the size of the building. I’m sure it isn’t a pyramid. I think it may be a temple like the Karnak temple.”

As the photos continued to show that the wall extended beyond what would have been necessary for a temple, I began to realize this was something not seen before in Egypt. One week before the end of the fall term, I was on my way to Egypt. Mahmoud would join me at the end of the term.

I flew into Luxor. Mostafa met me, and we drove directly to the site. Arriving late in the evening, Mostafa had a collection of coins and artifacts uncovered by the crew while digging out the wall. Early in the morning, before the sun was up, I walked to the wall. The men were still sleeping, and there wasn’t anyone there. I sat on the wall, looking at the site, trying to figure out what was hidden. As the sun rose, I saw an uncovered stone. I watched as the stone became more visible. I realized what I was looking at, the top of a Greek temple.

As the men removed the sand, exposing the wall. More sand slid from the roof into the area where the sand was removed. Knowing this, I needed to redirect some men to start cleaning the sand from above the temple. To do this, the men had to remove the sand between the wall and the building. They were still working on removing sand to expose the wall. Now they will need to remove the sand from inside the wall as well. This was going to take longer than I thought.

I called Mahmoud and brought him up to date. We agreed he didn’t need to come to Egypt and we would keep in touch by phone.

I went and got a cup of coffee, thinking about the removal of the sand and what I thought about the building being a temple. Now the question was it a Greek temple or an Egyptian temple. That can’t be determined until the front of the temple is exposed. I thought if it were an Egyptian temple, that would explain the presence of Greek and Egyptian coins. “Mostafa, what is your opinion about that temple? Is it Egyptian or Greek?”

“There is a significant difference between them. We need to see more of the temple. But first, we need to devise a way to keep the sand we are removing from falling back in. The wind seems intent on blowing the sand back.”

“The wooden barriers don’t seem to be working. Is there a way we could brace them and build them higher?”

“Maybe if we build a second wall. We could take the sand from around the building and dump it between the walls.”

“We can try that. That second wall should be very tall.”

As I sat on the part of the wall exposed, looking at the building, I was sure it was a temple. There would be no other reason to build something here. But, what is the reason to have a temple so far from the Nile, which the Egyptians hold sacred? It had to be a Greek temple and a secret temple at that. Why a secret temple, and to whom was it dedicated. If it is sacred and a secret, whoever built it must have been an enemy of Ptolemy, or the individual to whom the temple was dedicated must have been the enemy. Since coins minted by Ptolemy were found here, Egyptians must have visited this temple. The longer I sat there, the more questions I had.

“Howard, you seem a long way off.”

“Mostafa, I was thinking about this temple. With the coins we have found, people from Greece and Egypt must have visited this temple. What or who would be common to both countries.”

“Howard, the cup. Coenus was a general in Alexander’s army. We know that Alexander awarded his generals. I think the cup was given to Coenus when the Eastern Campaign was over. If you are correct and this temple is a Greek temple, could this be a temple built by Coenus in honor of Alexander?”

“That is a possibility. But why here? There isn’t any water here.”

“None that we know today. But in 300 BC, there may have been. The desert is alive, and it moves. An oasis that existed 2000 years ago may not exist today. Our maps of ancient Egypt were created in this century. We can only guess what existed then based on artifacts we find.”

“If you are correct, Mostafa, then this would be a Grecian temple. Maybe once we are able to enter it, we will find answers to our questions.”

Two weeks passed, I was confident it was a Grecian temple. I wanted to stay, but school would be resuming. I flew back to London.

Arriving at school, I brought Mahmoud up to date. I also asked for a leave of absence. I was determined to be there when the temple would be uncovered.