Archaeologists discover ancient Egypt's largest fortress

Egypt's Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty announced Saturday that archaeologists in Sinai have discovered the ruins and foundation of a 3,000-year-old fortress in the ancient city of Tell Habua, near the Suez Canal.

The fortress was nicknamed the "Wall of the Prince" and once belonged to a defensive line of fortresses and military cities. It was a part of the Horus Military Route, which included 11 forts and fortresses that protected Egypt's eastern borders during Egypt's New Kingdom period, from 1580 B.C.E. to 1080 B.C.E.

Mohammed Abdel-Maqsoud, the archaeologist in charge of the excavation team, told The Cairo Post that the fortress is a "model example of ancient Egypt's military architecture" and Egyptian war strategies.

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Five of the 11 forts and fortresses, which are described on the walls of Luxor's Karnak Temple, have been found. The route was a "key starting point" for military campaigns, since the forts and fortresses helped provide advance warnings of impending enemy attacks, the Post notes.