Archaeologists Discover 2,600-Year-Old ‘Pot of Gold’ at Karnak Temple in Egypt

A team of Egyptian and French archaeologists recently unearthed a 2,600-year-old “pot of gold” at Karnak Temple near Luxor, Egypt. The most remarkable item extracted from the broken pottery vessel was a gold statuette honoring the ancient deities Amun, Khonsu and Mut.

Referred to as the Theban Triad, the three figures included Amun, the chief deity of Thebes; Mut, the wife of Amun and the goddess of creation; and their son Khonsu, the god of the moon, time and healing.

The researchers believe the statuette was worn around the neck as an amulet. It was likely a symbol of devotion and divine protection.

Other jewelry in the vessel included golden rings, small golden amulets, a metal brooch, amulets representing the gods in animal forms, and a large number of beads, some of which were plated with gold. The eye-shaped “wadjet” amulets were believed to have healing power and symbolized rebirth.

“All pieces are in good condition, with the jewelry being remarkably well-preserved,” noted Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Credited with the discovery is the Egyptian-French archaeological mission, which is affiliated with the French-Egyptian Center for the Study of Karnak Temples (CFEETK). Also cooperating in the ongoing project is the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the French National Center for Scientific Research.

The items linked to Egypt’s 26th Dynasty (664-525 BC) were found during the excavation work conducted in the northwestern sector of the Karnak Temples, a series of structures built about 4,000 years ago and modified over millennia.

The scientists could not provide a conclusive answer as to why the golden items were buried in a pottery vessel. Some believe the pot of gold represented a sacred offering, while others believe it might have been a donation to the temple treasury. Still, another theory is that the cache might have been buried to prevent the valuable items from being discovered and confiscated during times of political unrest.

The Egyptian-French archaeological mission is currently working on restoring and documenting these discoveries, which are set to be displayed in the Luxor Museum.

Credits: Jewelry photos courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Temple photo by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.