Could Egypt’s Lost City of Masn Finally Be Found?

Tell Abu Seify, Qantara East, Egypt | August 2026

A newly discovered inscription near the Suez Canal could help solve one of Egyptology’s long-standing mysteries: the location of the ancient city of Masn, a place associated with the worship of Horus and mentioned in Egyptian texts more than 3,000 years ago.

Archaeologists working at Tell Abu Seify in Qantara East, in Egypt’s Ismailia Governorate, have uncovered a large sandstone lintel bearing the royal titles of Ramses II. The inscription also refers to the restoration of a statue of Horus, identifying the deity as the “Lord of the City of Masn”.

The discovery has renewed the possibility that Tell Abu Seify may be the long-lost city itself. Masn — also known in scholarly literature as Mesen — has been the subject of debate for more than a century. Researchers have questioned whether it was an independent settlement near the ancient fortress of Tjaru, another name for Tjaru, or perhaps the name of a temple dedicated to Horus.

The new evidence is particularly significant because of the site's position along the Horus Military Road, the ancient route connecting Egypt with Sinai and Canaan. Identifying Masn here could provide a clearer picture of how Egypt protected and administered its eastern frontier during the Pharaonic period.

The excavation is also revealing a complex history extending far beyond the reign of Ramses II. Archaeologists have uncovered a substantial mud-brick enclosure with gateways and rooms surrounding a temple complex, as well as two stone roads leading towards the sanctuary. One dates to the Ptolemaic period, while another was constructed after Egypt came under Roman rule.

Among the finds are fragments of statues, a basalt torso of a king and representations of falcons — imagery strongly connected with the cult of Horus. The site later underwent major transformations, including its conversion into Roman military barracks and, eventually, industrial lime production.

For now, archaeologists are cautious. The inscription strengthens the case for identifying Tell Abu Seify with Masn, but further excavation and study are still required before the connection can be confirmed.

If the identification is ultimately proven, the discovery could redraw our understanding of one of ancient Egypt’s most important eastern gateways — bringing a city known for thousands of years only through texts back onto the archaeological map.

Where: Tell Abu Seify, Qantara East, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt
Period: Ramses II / New Kingdom, with later Ptolemaic and Roman phases
Source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities