The Egyptian Military Operations Authority on Tuesday discovered the nameplate of King Apries in the Tal Defna area in Ismailia, which is located to the west of the Suez Canal. The plate is made up of two pieces of red sandstone with two cartouches bearing the name Wah-ib-ra (Apries ) inscribed. Apries (589-570 BC) was the fifth king of the 26th Dynasty. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud said the plate was transferred to storerooms in Ismailia. Abdel Maqsoud went on to say that the two pieces were covered in hieroglyphics, whereas the base was free of any writing or carvings. The first and larger of the two pieces is 163cm long, 85cm wide and 58cm thick, while the second and smaller of the two pieces is 86cm long and 55cm wide. Abdel Maqsoud pointed out that a previous excavation of the Tal Defna area carried out by a team from the Supreme Council of Antiquities nearly three years ago led to a number of discoveries. He added that Tal Defna was not only a military garrison for mercenary Greek soldiers but also an Egyptian city established by King Psamtik I during the first part of the 26th Dynasty. Translated from the Arabic Edition
