Watch Video 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City
Fact About the 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City, named "The Rise of Aten

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a 3,000-year-old city that dates back to the era of ruler Amenhotep III, one of the country's most powerful pharaohs who reigned for almost four decades in the 1300s B.C.

Egyptian officials, who announced the find on Thursday, are calling the discovery in the southern province of Luxor the "Lost Golden City."

It dates to the reign of King Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt between 1391 and 1353 BCE, according to the statement.

The newly unearthed city is located between the temple of King Rameses III and the colossi of Amenhotep III on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor. The city continued to be used by Amenhotep III's grandson Tutankhamun, and then his successor king Ay.

Historians believe that one year after the pot was made the city was abandoned and the capital moved to Amarna, 250 miles to the north, but the reasons for doing so remain unknown, according to the statement.

Facts about 'Lost Golden City' or The Rise of Aten

Archaeologists found the "city's streets flanked by houses," with intact walls up to 10 feet high and "rooms filled with tools of daily life ... left by the ancient residents as if it were yesterday," such as rings, colored pottery vessels, casting molds to make amulets, pots used to carry meat, and tools for spinning, weaving and metal and glass-making.

The team also found a large bakery, "complete with ovens and storage pottery," whose size suggests it was used to cater to a "very large number of workers and employees."

Other discoveries include the skeleton of a person buried with arms stretched out to the side and rope wrapped around the knees.

Photos of ancient city in Egypt - The Rise of Aten:

Fact About the 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City, named "The Rise of Aten
An undated handout photo released Thursday, April 8, 2021 by the by the Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology shows an archaeological discovery as part of the 'Lost Golden City' in Luxor, Egypt. The city is 3000 years old, dates to the reign of Amenhotep III, and continued to be used by Tutankhamun and Ay. Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology via AP
Fact About the 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City, named "The Rise of Aten
Skeletons were also found buried in the city. Credit: From Dr. Zahi Hawass/Facebook
Fact About the 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City, named "The Rise of Aten
An undated handout photo released Thursday, April 8, 2021 by the by the Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology shows an archaeological discovery as part of the 'Lost Golden City' in Luxor, Egypt. The city is 3000 years old, dates to the reign of Amenhotep III, and continued to be used by Tutankhamun and Ay. Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology via AP
Fact About the 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City, named "The Rise of Aten
An undated handout photo released Thursday, April 8, 2021 by the by the Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology shows an archaeological discovery as part of the 'Lost Golden City' in Luxor, Egypt. The city is 3000 years old, dates to the reign of Amenhotep III, and continued to be used by Tutankhamun and Ay. Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology via AP
Fact About the 'Lost City' in Egypt: 3,000-Year-Old and Largest Ancient City, named "The Rise of Aten
An undated handout photo released Thursday, April 8, 2021 by the by the Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology shows an archaeological discovery as part of the 'Lost Golden City' in Luxor, Egypt. The city is 3000 years old, dates to the reign of Amenhotep III, and continued to be used by Tutankhamun and Ay. Zahi Hawass Center For Egyptology via AP

How to Discover largest ancient city in Egypt

The excavation, which began in September 2020, has unearthed most of the southern part of the city. However, the northern region is still to be unearthed.

A large cemetery and tombs, similar to those in the Valley of Kings, were also uncovered but have not been explored yet.

After seven months of excavation, the mission led by former Egyptian antiquities chief Zahi Hawass found neighborhoods of the city. The mission's initial objective was to find a mortuary temple of King Tut.

Hawass said the find was the largest ancient city ever uncovered in Egypt. The dig revealed archaeological finds, such as jewelry, colored pottery and mud bricks bearing seals of Amenhotep III, who ruled during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

"What they unearthed was the site of a large city in a good condition of preservation, with almost complete walls, and with rooms filled with tools of daily life," Hawass said in the ABC News report, adding that discoveries included a residential area and a bakery.

Many foreign missions have previously searched for the city, but none were able to locate it. Hawass said his team expects to uncover tombs filled with treasures.

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