Serabit el-Khadim South Pillar — Hathor Turquoise Terrace Extension
Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom (1900–1100 BCE)·Egyptian turquoise mining·🇪🇬 South Sinai, Egypt
About
About Serabit el-Khadim South Pillar — Hathor Turquoise Terrace Extension
Serabit el-Khadim South Pillar — Hathor Turquoise Terrace Extension in South Sinai, Egypt is a Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom (1900–1100 BCE) temple-complex attributed to Egyptian turquoise mining. South terrace pylon extension where Proto-Sinaitic alphabetic inscriptions 1800 BCE were scratched by Semite workers. Gardiner Proto-Sinaitic 1800 BCE earliest alphabet at Hathor temple terrace where Canaanite workers invented alphabet.
Why it mattersKey Egyptian turquoise mining reference for transition
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade route evidence
- 02Neolithic origins
Theories
- 01Earliest farming model
- 02Desert port logistics
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1900 BCE
- Period
- Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom (1900–1100 BCE)
- Culture
- Egyptian turquoise mining
- Purpose
- South terrace pylon extension where Proto-Sinaitic alphabetic inscriptions 1800 BCE were scratched by Semite workers
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1900 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1950 CE
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
29.0400° N · 33.4600° E · 780 m · 3 mapped features
Serabit el-Khadim South Pillar — Hathor Turquoise Terrace Extension — Cella/Shrine
shrineShrine
29.0401° N · 33.4601° ESerabit el-Khadim South Pillar — Hathor Turquoise Terrace Extension — Court
courtCourt
29.0398° N · 33.4602° ESerabit el-Khadim South Pillar — Hathor Turquoise Terrace Extension — Enclosure
enclosureEnclosure
29.0404° N · 33.4598° E