What is serabit?

Serabit El-Khadim is an ancient Egyptian temple located in the mountainous region of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The temple was built during the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhet III, around 1800 BC as a center of worship for the Egyptian goddess Hathor, and was used for centuries thereafter.

The temple was rediscovered in the early 20th century by archaeologist Flinders Petrie and his team. The site has yielded a wealth of artifacts, including inscriptions in hieroglyphics, hieratic, and the early Egyptian script proto-Sinaitic, as well as pottery, stone vessels, and bronze tools.

One of the most significant discoveries at Serabit El-Khadim was a large collection of turquoise mines, suggesting that the temple may have been a center of turquoise production as well as a place of worship. This importance of turquoise brought prosperity and political power to the region for centuries.

Today, the site is open for visitors, and many artifacts from Serabit El-Khadim can be found in museums around the world, highlighting the rich history and culture of ancient Egypt.