Underwater archaeologists exploring the sunken city of Sais have located a monumental gateway dedicated to the goddess Neith. Excavations at the base of the structure yielded thousands of small ceramic oil lamps, many still containing traces of castor oil and salt. This matches historical accounts by Herodotus regarding the 'Lychnokaia' or the Festival of Lamps, where all of Egypt was said to light lamps simultaneously for a single night.
The discovery provides the first direct archaeological evidence of the scale and specific artifacts used in this ancient national celebration. The high density of lamps suggests that the temple courtyard was once a sea of fire, creating a spectacular visual ritual intended to guide the spirits of the deceased during the annual inundation cycle.