Curious Facts on Abydos, Egypt: From Ancient Breweries to Divine Burials, Discovery the Wonders of This Remarkable Site

Before Alexandria, before Amarna, there was Abydos, a religious center on the west bank of the Nile that is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt. Learn more about this remarkable place, part of our 2022 World Monuments Watch:

Detail of hieroglyph reliefs in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt.

Some believe that Abydos contains some of the earliest known examples of writing in the world. 

Tomb labels found at the site are the oldest Egyptian hieroglyphs ever discovered. 

Interior of the temple of Seti I, 2018.

Abydos contains some of the oldest royal tombs in all of Egypt. 

Burial sites from Egypt’s first dynasty have been discovered at Abydos. As such, the archaeological site can shed important light on the early political development of ancient Egypt. 

Archaeological excavations at the ancient brewery of Abydos, Egypt.

Excavations have uncovered a 5,000-year-old brewery at Abydos. 

Archaeologists believe the large-scale facility could produce thousands of gallons of beer at a time for not only recreational but also ritual use. Excavations of royal tombs have also discovered ancient wine jars with the stoppers still intact. 

Amun Chapel in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt.

Ancient Egyptians believed that Abydos contained the grave of an ancient god. 

As well as being the burial site of the first pharaohs, Abydos was a major site for the worship of Osiris, lord of the underworld. A subterranean structure known as the Osireion was built as a symbolic tomb or cenotaph for the god. Unique structures such as this make Abydos one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt. Today, however, a number of factors—from looting to urban and agricultural encroachment—are putting the site’s future at risk. In 2022, World Monuments Fund (WMF) selected Abydos for the Watch to raise awareness of the threats facing this irreplaceable ancient site and work to ensure its continued survival.