Medieval-era Arabic graffiti uncovered in Egyptian cave

Cairo, July 19 (IANS/AKI) Archaeologists have discovered Medieval-era Arabic graffiti in a cave in Upper Egypt's Red Sea governorate, the country's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) said on Wednesday.

The cave, located in an area known as the Golden Triangle, was used by pilgrims, traders and travellers to seek shelter from the heat during journeys from Egypt to Mecca or Palestine, the SCA cited Assistant Antiquities Minister Mohammed Abdellatif as saying.

During their stay in the cave, the visitors carved graffiti on the walls, some of which remains while some has been eroded, Abdellatif said.

The graffiti dates from the period of Mamluk rule (1250-1517), according to the archaeologists.

One inscription found on the walls of the cave reads "No God except Allah," said Mahmmed Tunik, an archaeologist at Egypt's Red Sea Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Department.

"God has returned back the poor slave Youssef Bin Hatem Alshati to his family in 755 of Hegira (1354). May God forgive him and his parents and all the Muslims Amen," Tunik quoted a second text as reading.

Tunik said the graffiti was unique within the Golden Triangle area, which lies between the cities of Safaga, Usseir and Quena.

--IANS/AKI

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