Ancient gym discovered in Egypt

A team of German and Egyptian experts has discovered an ancient gym at Watfa, in Fayoum province, south of the capital Cairo.

Newly discovered ancient gym vestiges.

A team of German and Egyptian experts led by German archaeologist Cornelia Roemer of the German Institute for Archaeological Research has discovered an ancient gymnasium in Watfa, Fayoum province, south of Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said on November 6. This is the remains of the first ancient Greek gymnasium ever found in Egypt.

The Greek-style gymnasium features a large meeting hall, a dining room, a courtyard in the middle of the building, and a nearly 200-meter long outdoor running track.

The Watfa gymnasium is clear evidence of the impact of Greek life in Egypt, not only in Alexandria but also in the countryside, says archaeologist Roemer.

According to Ms. Roemer, gymnasiums were once the private property of the wealthy, who wanted their villages to be even more Greek in style.

The German Archaeological Research Institute has been conducting explorations and excavations at Watfa since 2010.

According to VNA