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Image Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Thousands of Ostraca Discovered at Athribis Reveal Daily Life and Astronomy in Ancient Egypt
Archaeologists working at the ancient Egyptian site of Athribis in Upper Egypt have uncovered 13,000 inscribed ostraca—ceramic fragments bearing written texts and drawings—during the latest excavation season. The discovery significantly increases the total number of ostraca found at the site to around 43,000 pieces, making Athribis the largest known concentration of such material at a single archaeological location.
The discoveries were made by a joint Egyptian–German archaeological mission involving Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Tübingen. Excavations at the site have been ongoing since 2005.
Ostraca were commonly used in antiquity as inexpensive writing surfaces. Broken pottery fragments served as convenient materials for recording notes, receipts, letters, and exercises by students. Because they preserve everyday writing, ostraca provide valuable insights into daily life that are rarely found in monumental inscriptions.
At Athribis, the texts span more than a thousand years, illustrating the linguistic and cultural diversity of the region. The earliest examples include tax receipts written in demotic script from the 3rd century BC, while the most recent pieces include Arabic jar labels dating between the 9th and 11th centuries AD.
Most of the ostraca are written in demotic, which accounts for roughly 60–75% of the texts. Around 15–30% are written in Greek, reflecting the influence of the Hellenistic and Roman periods in Egypt. Smaller numbers include inscriptions in hieratic, hieroglyphic, Coptic, and Arabic scripts.
In addition to written records, about 4–5% of the fragments contain drawings, including figurative sketches and geometric patterns. Among the most remarkable pieces are more than 130 ostraca connected to astronomical themes, including depictions of zodiac signs and references to celestial phenomena. This makes Athribis the richest Egyptian site known for ostraca related to ancient astronomy.
Many texts document everyday administrative activities, such as accounting records, lists of goods, tax receipts, and delivery notes. Others contain religious material written by temple personnel, including hymns, prayers, and notes related to sacrificial offerings. Some fragments also preserve writing exercises created by students, offering a glimpse into ancient educational practices.
The site of Athribis, located near Nagaa Sheikh Hammad about seven kilometers west of Sohag, was an important religious center in antiquity. It served as a cult center for the lioness goddess Repit, who formed a local divine triad together with the god Min of nearby Akhmim and the child deity Kolanthes.
Researchers believe that ongoing study of the thousands of ostraca will provide an exceptionally detailed picture of the social, economic, and religious life of this ancient Egyptian community over many centuries.
Published on: 11-03-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: LBV Magazine