Experts are carefully uncovering traces of the original paint and fragments of gold leaf that once adorned the 2,000-year-old Temple of Edfu

The temple, which measures around 450 feet in length and roughly 250 feet wide is perhaps the best-preserved in Egypt.

In ancient Egypt, paint was sourced from minerals, such as ocre, that were then ground into a powder, according to research from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, the color blue — which is commonly seen — cannot be found in nature, so it was created by combining and heating a mix of natural materials, such as sand, lime and copper.

A joint archeological mission revealed the original colors of the Edfu Temple, as well as never-before-seen hieroglyphic inscriptions. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.

Archaeologists breathed new life into the ancient inscriptions of Egypt’s Edfu Temple. The ongoing restoration project revealed the temple’s original colors, as well as new insights into Egypt’s fascinating history and enduring visual culture.