Roman Emperor Tiberius Stone Slab Discovered at Karnak Temple

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a 2,000-year-old sandstone monument, known as a stela, depicting the Roman emperor Tiberius as a pharaoh. The artifact was found during restoration work at the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, ancient Thebes.

The rectangular slab measures approximately 23.6 by 15.7 inches (60 by 40 centimeters). According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the monument dates to the rule of Tiberius, which lasted from A.D. 14 to 37.

Details of the Discovery

The stela was uncovered during a three-year restoration project focusing on a gateway from the era of Ramesses III in Karnak. The site has shown evidence of various construction and restoration efforts spanning the New Kingdom, the 18th Dynasty, and the Greek and Roman eras.

The monument depicts Emperor Tiberius standing before the Theban triad, a group of ancient Egyptian deities consisting of Amun (or Amun-Ra), Mut, and Khonsu.

Below the visual scene, the stela contains five lines of hieroglyphic text. These inscriptions document the restoration of the retaining wall of Amun’s Temple within the Karnak Temple Complex.

Historical and Cultural Context

By the time Tiberius ascended to power, Egypt had been a province of the Roman Empire for 44 years. This discovery highlights the Roman administration’s adoption of Egyptian religious and royal iconography to maintain authority.

Egyptologist Abdelghaffar Wagdy, the general director of Luxor’s Antiquities and co-director of the Egyptian-French Archaeological Center leading the mission, noted that Tiberius was the ruler responsible for maintaining ma’at, which is the principle of cosmic order in ancient Egyptian religion.

The depiction of a Roman emperor as a pharaoh served as a political and religious bridge, aligning the Roman ruler with the traditional divine roles of the Egyptian monarchy.

Preservation and Future Display

The discovery was announced by Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry on March 30, 2026. The mission was a collaborative effort between Egyptian and French archaeologists.

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar Wagdy, who also serves as the director-general of Luxor Museum, stated that the stela has undergone a process of meticulous restoration. The artifact is intended to be displayed in a museum in the future.

This find is part of a broader initiative to develop the Karnak site into an open-air museum. The goal of this project is to provide greater insight into the architectural and cultural development of the temples throughout different historical ages.