https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-904863
Complete bath complex, ancient hydraulic system uncovered north of Suez Canal
The layer is marked by remnants of ancient Cypriot pottery and Greek amphorae
The complex was found during the first excavation season in the area, which sits roughly 40 km south of Port Said and 1.5 km north of the Suez Canal.
Preliminary study of the site's archaeological layers revealed a clear succession of settlement, beginning in the late fourth and early third centuries BCE.
The layer is marked by remnants of ancient Cypriot pottery and Greek amphorae, confirming that settlement of the site began before the construction of the bathing complex.
The layers above it point to a Ptolemaic settlement phase during the second and first centuries BCE, represented by a collection of Rhodian amphora stamps found alongside other local and imported pottery.
Ancient hydraulic system unearthed at site
The discovery is significant for two reasons: the first being the documentation of the first complete bathing complex to be unearthed at Tell Nasser, and the second being confirmation that the site was settled prior to Ptolemaic period while showing that it was in use throughout the Roman period as well.
The discovery offers a full picture of ancient hydraulic engineering in the eastern Delta region and bears similarities to known Hellenistic baths found elsewhere in Egypt, including the recently discovered bath at Tell el-Herr in northern Sinai.
What sets the Tell Nasser complex apart from other bathing complexes found in Egypt is that it combines a private bathing unit with the public bath, together with a complete water supply and drainage system.
The private bathing unit is centered on a circular basin that measures at around 2.5 meters across, made of red brick and lined with moisture-resistant pink mortar.
Nearby is a low structure believed to have been used for heating water.
Evidence of continued use of complex through Roman period
The complex was likely built in the late first century BCE and remained in use through the Roman period, with architectural evidence pointing to a series of modifications over time.
Later though, during the late Roman period, parts of the complex appear to have been repurposed for storage, as suggested by Gaza amphorae recovered from the site.
The public baths consist of two circular rooms, or tholoi, each measuring about five meters in diameter.
The first room held five footbaths, three of which have survived in good condition.
Each of the five features a backrest, side armrests, and a rounded recess for the feet, along with three rectangular basins and a quarter-circular basin used to collect and distribute water.
The floor was finished in slip-resistant hydraulic mortar, with a drainage opening linked to the site's internal drainage network.
A complete hydraulic system had been uncovered during excavations.
The find included a six-meter-long water supply channel made of red brick, with part of the channel covered by a vaulted red-brick roof, and a complete drainage network.
An older channel was found beneath it, and remnants of residential walls were unearthed during excavations of the area, giving archaeologists evidence that the site went through even earlier phases of construction.
The discovery adds “new insight into the history of settlement and the development of architecture and public services in the eastern Delta during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.”
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-904863
Extensive Ptolemaic-Roman Bathing Complex Unearthed in Egypt
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered an incredible bathing complex at the Tell Nasser archaeological site in Port Said. The complex is the first to be found in the region and helps us to better understand the settlement’s history, its architectural style, and evolution of public services in the eastern Nile Delta during Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The complex, which includes both public and private bathing facilities, demonstrates an advanced level of hydraulic engineering and suggests the area was occupied much earlier than previously thought.
Tell Nasser is located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Port Said and 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Qantara West. The discovery underscores the archaeological significance of the Port Said region and highlights its potential for further historical research into the growth of settlements in the eastern Nile Delta.
Traces of a Pre-Ptolemaic Settlement
Preliminary analysis of the archaeological layers at Tell Nasser has revealed that the site was occupied long before the construction of the bathing complex. The earliest remains date back to the late fourth and early third centuries BC, preceding the Ptolemaic period. The presence of Cypriot-style pottery and Greek amphorae confirms the existence of an earlier settlement at the site.
Later Ptolemaic layers, dating from the second and first centuries BC, yielded stamped Rhodian amphorae along with a mix of locally made and imported pottery. These findings point to continued occupation and active trade in the region. The Tell Nasser excavation marks the first time a complete bathing complex has been scientifically uncovered in the area. The findings also indicate that the complex remained in use during the Roman period, undergoing architectural modifications while continuing to serve its original function.
Advanced Hydraulic Engineering and Design
The Tell Nasser bathing complex stands out as one of the most complete examples of ancient hydraulic engineering discovered in the eastern Nile Delta. While its design shares similarities with Hellenistic baths previously found in Egypt, such as the recently excavated bath at Tell El-Herr in North Sinai, the Tell Nasser complex is unique in its inclusion of both public baths and a separate private bathing unit, all connected by an integrated water supply and drainage system.
The private bath features a circular basin measuring about 2.5 meters (8 feet) in diameter, constructed from fired red bricks and coated with waterproof pink plaster. Archaeologists also discovered two oval foot baths, drainage channels, and a low-built structure likely used for heating water.
The public baths include two circular rooms, or tholoi, each measuring about 5 meters (16 feet) across. One of these rooms contains five foot-bathing stations, three of which are largely intact, complete with built-in backrests, armrests, and circular foot basins.
A Sophisticated Water Management System
The sophisticated water management system is built around a fired-brick channel nearly 6 meters (20 feet) long, which was raised above ground and partly covered by a vaulted brick roof to protect the water as it flowed through the complex.
Circular bathing room
In addition to the main conduit, excavators found an integrated drainage network, an older water channel beneath the primary one, and buried residential walls. These findings confirm that Tell Nasser experienced multiple phases of construction prior to the establishment of the bath complex.
The complex was likely built in the late first century BC and remained in use until the second century AD. This timeline is supported by pottery recovered from the site, including lamps, plates, and tableware. During the Late Roman period, parts of the complex were converted into storage areas, as evidenced by the discovery of Gaza amphorae. The artifacts recovered, including stamped Rhodian amphorae bearing Greek names, have been crucial in dating the site’s archaeological layers and reconstructing its history from the pre-Ptolemaic period through the Roman era.
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/tell-nasser-bath-complex-00103044
Some coins found at siteThe earliest layer predates the Ptolemaic period, dating to the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC, and is represented by Cypriot pottery traditions and Greek amphorae, confirming the existence of an earlier settlement before the construction of the bath complex. The subsequent layers indicate Ptolemaic occupation during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, represented by a collection of Rhodian amphora stamps together with locally produced and imported pottery.
The excavations also uncovered a complete hydraulic system, including a main water-supply channel built of fired brick and extending nearly six m. The channel was elevated above ground level to protect the water during transport, and part of it was covered by a barrel-vaulted brick roof. The mission also revealed a comprehensive drainage network, as well as an extension of a fired-brick wall beneath the water channel. In addition, archaeologists uncovered an earlier water channel beneath the current supply channel, together with the remains of residential walls beneath the overlying deposits, confirming earlier building phases at the site.
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2026/07/31/complete-bathing-complex-discovered-at-tell-nasser-archaeological-site-in-port-said/





