Marble Head of Aphrodite and Roman Basilica Unearthed at Heracleopolis Magna in Egypt

On May 31, 2026, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed significant archaeological finds at Ehnasya el-Médineh, the site of ancient Heracleopolis Magna in the Beni Suef Governorate. A team from the Supreme Council of Antiquities uncovered artifacts spanning from the Middle Kingdom (2022-1650 BC) to the Roman era, such as a 25 cm marble head of Aphrodite, a repurposed block featuring Pharaoh Senusret III's royal titulary, and a Roman basilica constructed from materials of a Doric temple. The basilica's foundations included columns weighing as much as 45 tons. Hisham El-Leithy remarked that the inscription of Senusret III establishes the king's connection to Ehnasya. Excavations have been ongoing since the 19th century, with a Spanish mission commencing in 1966. Current research also involves mural statue fragments and coin molds.