El-Tod (Djerty / Tuphium)
Tod
Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic (2480 BCE–30 BCE; peak Middle Kingdom 12th Dyn)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Luxor Governorate, Upper Egypt, Egypt
About
About El-Tod (Djerty / Tuphium)
Temple of Montu at El-Tod (ancient Djerty, Graeco–Roman Tuphium) on the east bank 20 km southwest of Luxor: Old Kingdom foundation (Userkaf) rebuilt Sesostris I 12th Dyn (c.1920 BCE granite pillars with Sesostris–Montu scenes), enclosed by Middle Kingdom court, enlarged Thutmose III–Seti I, final Ptolemaic pronaos. South temenos yielded famous Tod Treasure (1946) — four bronze Chests of Amenemhat II containing 153 silver vessels, lapis cylinders and Mesopotamian lapis-horsed box, hallmarks proving Old Kingdom Egyptian trade with Byblos and the Argonauts. Used by pilgrims to Montu the war-falcon.
Why it mattersTod Treasure four chests prove direct Old Kingdom silver and lapis trade 500 km beyond textual record; gateway to interpret Montu bull-cult evolution.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why hide Treasure under pavement (temple robbery precaution or ritual deposit)
- 025th Dyn Userkaf chapel beneath Middle Kingdom
Theories
- 01Tod as Upper Egyptian analogue to Atum-Heliopolis cosmology (Arnold)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Old Kingdom chapel 5th Dyn; Sesostris I pillars c.1920 BCE; Ptolemaic pronaos 2nd c BCE
- Period
- Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic (2480 BCE–30 BCE; peak Middle Kingdom 12th Dyn)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Sesostris I / Thutmose III / Ptolemy VII
- Purpose
- Temple of Montu war-god and bull-cult centre; treasury deposit of Amenemhat II
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Old Kingdom chapel 5th Dyn; Sesostris I pillars c.1920 BCE; Ptolemaic pronaos 2nd c BCE
Initial construction
c. 1412 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
25.5790° N · 32.5330° E · 85 m · 3 mapped features
Sesostris I Pillared Hall
templeTwelve granite pillars with Montu reliefs 12th Dyn
25.5795° N · 32.5335° EPtolemaic Pronaos
templePronaos with Hathor capitals
25.5788° N · 32.5330° ETreasure Foundation Chests
tombFour bronze chests beneath floor housing 153 vases
25.5790° N · 32.5332° E
Gallery