<Complete Canopus Decree ‘Second Only to the Rosetta Stone’ Found
Updated 11 September, 2025 - 14:52
Gary Manners
Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed a rare hieroglyphic-only version of the famous Canopus Decree at Tell el-Pharaeen, marking the most significant discovery of its kind in over a century and a half.
A monumental archaeological discovery has emerged from the Nile Delta, where Egyptian researchers have uncovered what experts are calling a "new Rosetta Stone." The sandstone stela, discovered at Tell el-Pharaeen in Sharqia Governorate, contains a complete and pristine version of the Canopus Decree issued by King Ptolemy III in 238 BC. This marks the first intact copy found in more than 150 years, revolutionizing our understanding of ancient Egyptian language and Ptolemaic administration. The discovery's unique characteristic lies in its exclusive hieroglyphic inscription, unlike previously known trilingual versions that combined Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Greek text.
The mission, led by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, has unveiled an artifact measuring 127.5 centimeters tall, 83 centimeters wide, and 48 centimeters thick. The stela's rounded top features the classical Egyptian royal iconography: a winged sun disk flanked by two cobra goddesses wearing the White and Red Crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt, with the inscription "Di-Ankh" ("given life") carved between them, reports Arkeonews. Thirty lines of meticulously carved hieroglyphic text fill the central panel, executed in medium-quality sunk relief that has preserved remarkably well over more than two millennia.
The newly discovered monolingual hieroglyphic stela of the Canopus Decree. ( Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt)
Revolutionary Calendar Reform and Royal Honors
The Canopus Decree represents far more than royal propaganda; it documents one of history's most significant chronological innovations. Dr. Hisham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt, explains that the inscriptions detail the remarkable achievements of Ptolemy III and his wife Queen Berenice, referred to as "the beneficent gods." Among their documented accomplishments was the revolutionary introduction of the leap year system, adding one extra day every four years dedicated to the royal cult writes La Brújula Verde. This calendrical reform predated the Julian calendar by centuries, making ancient Egypt the birthplace of our modern leap year concept.
The decree also established a new religious festival synchronized with the heliacal rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, which the Egyptians called Sothis. This astronomical event marked the beginning of the Nile's annual flood, crucial for Egyptian agriculture and prosperity. The royal couple's innovative calendar reform aimed to correct the gradual drift of seasons that occurred with the traditional 365-day Egyptian calendar. By adding the extra day every four years, they created the most accurate solar calendar of the ancient world, with 365.25 days per year.
Rendering of an Egyptian Calendar. ( bestimagesever/Adobe Stock)
Unprecedented Archaeological SignificanceSherif Fathy, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, emphasized the discovery's transformative impact on Egyptology. "The continuous achievements of Egyptian archaeological missions add new chapters to the history of Egypt's ancient civilization," Fathy stated, highlighting how this find illuminates the archaeological treasures of Sharqia Governorate that continue to astonish the world.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stressed that this complete version represents an extraordinary addition to the corpus of Ptolemaic texts, deepening knowledge of royal and religious practices during this crucial period.
This discovery joins six previously known versions found at sites including Kom el-Hisn, Tanis, and Tell Basta, but its monolingual hieroglyphic nature sets it apart from all others. The famous Tanis version, discovered by Prussian archaeologist Karl Richard Lepsius in 1866, proved instrumental in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs because it contained more hieroglyphic signs than the Rosetta Stone itself. However, this new Tell el-Pharaeen version offers scholars an even more valuable resource: a coherent, uninterrupted hieroglyphic text free from the interpretative challenges posed by trilingual inscriptions.
The trilingual Canopus Decree stela discovered by Lepsius in 1866, now in Cairo Museum. ( CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ancient Imet: Religious and Political Center
The discovery location adds significant historical context to this remarkable find. Tell el-Pharaeen corresponds to ancient Imet, an important urban center since the Middle Kingdom period. Previous excavations have revealed Ptolemaic temples and luxurious residential buildings, including a sanctuary dedicated to Wadjet, the cobra goddess who protected Lower Egypt. The presence of such a significant royal decree at Imet underscores the city's religious and administrative importance within the Ptolemaic kingdom, suggesting it was considered influential enough to house copies of decrees with national significance.>
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