Ancient Egyptians Were First to Hire Mayors, New Study Says

Reproduction of a papyrus depicting the reign of Ramses III on display in Venice, Italy, in 2003. PHOTO: AFP
Reproduction of a papyrus depicting the reign of Ramses III on display in Venice, Italy, in 2003. PHOTO: AFP
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Ancient Egyptians Were First to Hire Mayors, New Study Says

Reproduction of a papyrus depicting the reign of Ramses III on display in Venice, Italy, in 2003. PHOTO: AFP
Reproduction of a papyrus depicting the reign of Ramses III on display in Venice, Italy, in 2003. PHOTO: AFP

A recent study that examined a limestone block found in a village in Monufia Governorate (Egyptian Delta) has revealed that ancient Egyptians were the first to hire mayors in the New Kingdom.

According to the study published in the journal Union of Arab Archeologists, this block, found coincidentally at the Ashmoun center, has a remarkable cultural value because it features engravings that highlight major titles used in the local administration in the New Kingdom, like the "Mayor" or supervisor of the Khenti Nefret city.

The limestone is currently preserved at a museum storehouse in the Jewish Hill, in Kafr al-Shoubak region, Qalyubia Governorate, north of Cairo.

The study, led by Tamer Shaafa, Egyptology professor at the Monufia University's Literature School, explained that this city was located in what is known today as the "Shenbary" village, to the east of Giza Provence, which indicates the origin of the limestone before being moved later to Monufia, where it was unearthed.

Shaafa provided a detailed description of the block featuring nine horizontal lines of engraved hieroglyphic writings, copies of the hieroglyphic texts and their translations.

He also interpreted the used language and font, and identified the stone nature, suggesting it could be a part of a plate displaying a donation or grant of an agricultural field introduced by Ramesses III to the department of God Ra in the Delta.

In addition to the new information provided by the stone, it uncovers the historic value of the fourth district of Lower Egypt, which covered large parts of the Monufia, said the professor. "Although Ramesses III left myriad of belongings in the Delta, few have been discovered so far," he added.



Volcano Begins Erupting in Southwestern Iceland

File Photo: The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)
File Photo: The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)
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Volcano Begins Erupting in Southwestern Iceland

File Photo: The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)
File Photo: The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far Eat, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuri Demyanchuk)

A volcano began erupting in southwestern Iceland on Tuesday, just hours after authorities evacuated a nearby community and the Blue Lagoon spa.

Flames and smoke shot through the air as the volcanic fissure opened near the town of Grindavik, where some 40 homes have been evacuated, national broadcaster RUV reported. The community, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, was largely evacuated a year ago when the volcano came to life after lying dormant for 800 years, The AP news reported.

Webcams showed molten rock spewing out toward the community.

“The fissure is now about 500 meters (yards) long and has reached through the protective barrier north of Grindavík,'' Iceland's Met Office said in a statement. ”The fissure continues to grow, and it cannot be ruled out that it may continue to open further south.''

The magma flow began at about 6:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) accompanied by an intense earthquake storm similar to previous eruptions, the Icelandic Met Office said.