A joint Egyptian-International team has announced the discovery of a Ptolemaic-era temple dedicated to the frog-headed goddess Heqet near the Al-Minya region. The goddess Heqet, associated with fertility and childbirth, was typically honored in smaller shrines, but this find represents one of the most substantial sacred architectural complexes ever dedicated solely to her. The excavation revealed three intact limestone statues of the goddess in her frog form, perched atop ritual altars.
Inside the temple's inner sanctum, archaeologists discovered a unique hydraulic system of interconnected stone basins designed to hold water from the annual Nile flood. Researchers believe these basins were used in rebirth rituals, mimicking the emergence of life from the river's silt. The walls are adorned with relief carvings showing the Pharaoh offering lotus flowers to the goddess to ensure the health of newborns in the kingdom.