WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Archaeologists Discover Ramesses II Inscription in Sinai, Pointing to Lost City of Mesn
WHY IT MATTERS
The find confirms Mesn’s location and shows Roman influence in Sinai, enriching our understanding of ancient Egyptian urban networks and Roman frontier activities.
What happened
Archaeologists working in the Sinai Peninsula have uncovered a lintel bearing an inscription attributed to Pharaoh Ramesses II, suggesting the location of the long‑lost Egyptian city of Mesn. The lintel was found alongside the remains of a temple that, according to the team, was destroyed by Roman legionaries during their quarrying operations in the region.
The inscription provides the first direct textual link to Mesn, while the temple remains illustrate the extent of Roman activity in the area.
Together, the discoveries offer new evidence for the city’s existence and the historical interactions between Egypt and Rome.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Archaeologists find Ramesses II inscription in Sinai pointing to Egypt’s lost city of Mesn
The Jerusalem Post · BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM · Discovery only; publisher copyright terms apply