Quarrying for Claudius, protected by Min: Reflections on a small quarry in Gebel el Silsila East

Until now inscriptions have confirmed that the quarries of Gebel el Silsila East were in use until the time of Emperor Tiberius, but recent findings indicate that the quarrying process continued for at least another two generations. In one of the many smaller quarries three men carved their name repeatedly on the quarry walls, and dated their visits to a four year period, between the sixth and tenth imperial years of Claudius. Close-by is a roughly carved scene depicting the Egyptian god Min and a demotic text that describes him as the protective daemon of the area. This article will explore the possibly last phase of ancient quarrying at Gebel el Silsila East and the Egyptian god that protected its workers.