The Temple of Khnum

Conservators working in the Temple of Khnum in Esna, Upper Egypt, have uncovered new details of the building’s colourful ceiling frescoes. Construction on the temple began in the Ptolemaic period and continued into the Roman period, with decoration completed during the reign of Emperor Decius (r. AD 249-251). The temple’s walls and ceilings are covered with brilliantly coloured paintings, but over time these have been obscured by layers of soot, dust, and dirt. Since 2018, researchers from the University of Tübingen and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have been working on a project to uncover the building’s decorations and reveal their original vibrant colours.