The Last Wealthy City Of The Delta

Ayman Wahby and Said Eltalhawy describe their recent excavations at Tell Tebilla, one of the most important cities in the Delta during the first millennium BC.

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Tell Tebilla was an ancient city located about 12km to the north of Mendes, just south of the modern city of Dekernis in the Dakahlia Governorate (see map overleaf, top). The city gained its importance in ancient times due to its strategic location between the Mediterranean and two branches of the Nile.

To visit Tell Tebilla, head east from Mansoura towards Mit Mahmoud until you reach Tanah, then take the left side road through some small villages and farms, along a modern canal, el Shaflak, which could mark the remains of the defunct Mendesian branch of the Nile. You will pass farms and some limestone blocks lying beside the canal before reaching the 25 hectares of land which forms the mound of Tell Tebilla. In the western corner you will find a modern water filtration plant (see satellite image, ovelfeaf, centre); then to the east there are many broken stones scattered on the surface of the Tell (see left and overleaf, bottom) which were once parts of the chapels and tombs of high officials such as a commander of the army from Mendes.

Strategic Location