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Egypt Unveils a Striking Trove of Ancient Artifacts as the Country Tries to Boost Tourism Industry

Archaeologists in Egypt unearthed an ancient marble head of Aphrodite and remains of a Roman basilica in Beni Suef, 130 kilometres south of Cairo, alongside Pharaonic funerary furniture discovered in the Matariya neighborhood of Cairo.
The Ehnasiya necropolis served as an active economic and commercial hub when Egypt was part of the Roman Empire between 30 B.C. and A.D. 395, according to findings that underscore the site's historical importance.
Archaeologist Mohammed Abdel-Badei reported the basilica featured large stone blocks weighing up to 45 tons, while the marble Aphrodite head, measuring about 24 centimeters by 25 centimeters, reflects classical Greek and Roman artistic traditions.
The government expects these discoveries to boost the vital tourism sector, which attracted about 19 million visitors last year and 6.1 million during the first four months of 2026, according to official figures.
Egypt continues to promote antiquities to sustain its tourism recovery, recently bolstered by the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the famed Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, central to ongoing recovery efforts.

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