The streets and houses of the 3.6-thousand-year-old capital of the Hyksos, Avaris, were discovered in Egypt using radar. The invaders deprived the pharaohs of power for a century until they were expelled by the founder of the 18th dynasty, Ahmose I, around 1570 BC. e
Austrian archaeologists have built a radar image of the area around the settlement of Tal al-Dab, northeast of Cairo. They managed to find the ruins of the capital of the Hyksos, who ruled Egypt around 1664-1569 BC. e.
The head of the project, Irene Müller, said that the main task of the work is to determine how far the underground city stretches, reports Associated Press. Semitic nomads came from Asia 3.6 thousand years ago and occupied Egypt. They created the capital in a city called Avaris.
The head of the Egyptian Supreme Council for the Study of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, said the images provided provide an idea of the layout of Avaris' streets, Qatar News Agency reports. Scientists got a complete picture of how dwelling houses, temples and other buildings were located.
According to Mueller, archaeologists were able to identify one of the tributaries of the Nile, passing through the city, as well as two islands. According to archaeologists, the length of the tunnel is 174 meters. The structure has a fortified structure and goes deep underground.
Currently, scientists have begun to study the paintings on the walls. Archaeologists have already discovered beautiful frescoes depicting the pharaoh, texts from sacred books, many false doors, as well as "work" inscriptions made by architects for workers. Also in the tunnel were found fragments of ceramics, figurines-amulets "ushebti", a faience model of a ship. All artifacts belong to the period of the XVIII dynasty of the pharaohs (1569-1315 BC).
Scientists point out that there must be another secret underground tunnel from the tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Archaeologists also intend to search for it.
Hawass noted that he fully supports the methods used by the Austrians. Information about the city that went underground was obtained without the risk of unnecessarily harming modern agriculture in the Nile Delta.
Austrian specialists have been studying the Hyksos since 1975. The Hyksos seized power over most of Egypt in the middle of the 17th century BC. e., taking advantage of the weakening of the power of the pharaohs. Unlike the Egyptians, the invaders were good at handling horses, which gave them an edge in battle. The Hyksos founded their own dynasty of rulers. This period of history was called the Second transitional period.
The rule of the Hyksos ended with the accession of the founder of the XVIII dynasty, Ahmose I, who, after a long war, took Avaris and drove the nomads out of Egypt. He even invaded Palestine, pushing the Hyksos back even further. The beginning of the New Kingdom is associated with the reign of Ahmose I.
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