Archaeologists working in the Theban Necropolis near Luxor have discovered a well-preserved 2,400-year-old temple dedicated to Heka, the Egyptian god of magic and medicine. The temple is unique for its subterranean ritual library, which still contained several papyri detailing protection spells and medicinal recipes used by ancient priests.
The find also includes a collection of emerald-encrusted bronze wands and votive statues used in healing rituals. This discovery highlights the formal integration of magic into official state religion during the Late Period of ancient Egypt, showing that Heka was venerated with the same structural grandeur as the major cosmic deities.