{
  "id": 1264568,
  "title": "Archaeologists may have found Egypt’s lost city of Masn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/archaeologists-may-have-found-egypts-lost-city-of-masn-1264568",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-16T11:43:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/2026/08/16/archaeologists-may-have-found-egypts-lost-city-of-masn/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Archaeologists may have uncovered the location of Egypt's lost city of Masn, a city referenced in texts dating back over 3,000 years. The Egyptian archaeological team discovered an inscription referencing Masn at Tell Abu Seify in Qantara East, close to the Suez Canal in Ismailia governorate. This stone tablet, bearing inscriptions of Ramses II's royal titles and records of Horus's restored statue, provides strong evidence linking the site to Masn. However, further excavation and study are required to confirm the identification, according to Hisham El Leithy, the secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. The city, often known as Mesen in academic circles, was linked to the worship of a local form of Horus. Scholars have long debated whether Masn was a distinct town near Tjaru, the primary fortress at the entrance to Sinai, or alternatively, a different name for Tjaru or its Horus temple. The latest discovery, dating back to 1887 when stones with Ramses II's name and Horus references were found at Tell Abu Seify, supports the theory that Masn was located there. Identifying Masn would place it on the Horus Military Road, a vital trade route connecting Egypt to Sinai and ancient Canaan, providing insights into how the country's eastern border was managed. The excavation has also altered the understanding of the broader site, revealing a substantial mud-brick wall surrounding the temple complex and two stone roads leading from the fortified area to the temple. Inside the complex, storage rooms, service areas, and the remains of the sacred sanctuary were uncovered. The sanctuary was damaged when stone was removed for other uses. Artefacts, including statues and a Roman-era military barracks, were also found. The temple flourished under the Ptolemaic rulers before being converted into Roman barracks and later used for lime production. Further excavations are planned to gather more evidence and confirm whether Tell Abu Seify was indeed Masn.",
  "summary": "Archaeologists may have identified the site of Masn, an ancient Egyptian city mentioned in texts written more than 3,000 years ago. Its location has long been unknown. An Egyptian archaeological team found an inscription naming the city at Tell Abu Seify in Qantara East, near the Suez Canal in Egypt’s Ismailia governorate. It is carved on a large fragment of a sandstone lintel – a beam that once…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Archaeologists may have found Egypt’s lost city of Masn",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/archaeologists-may-have-found-egypts-lost-city-of-masn",
        "published": "2026-08-16T11:43:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}