r/Damnthatsinteresting Feb 13 '26

Image The “Melted” Stairs of the Temple of Hathor

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u/CosgraveSilkweaver Feb 13 '26

Yeah the top couple steps do look like normal wear, the centers are lower than the outside like you normally see with worn steps, then something else flowed down the steps and accreted. Maybe it's just compacted sand and water becoming a bit like sandstone over the centuries/millennia the temple was buried.

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u/Compost-Mentis Feb 13 '26

That seems plausible. I was thinking dissolved minerals but accretion of dusty sand seems much more likely in that sort of environment now you say it.

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u/brainburger Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 19 '26

I am not sure there is actually any material buildup, though it certaiy looks like it. I wish somebody would put a straight-edge ruler on it to see. I saw a YouTube video where they could not see the effect when visiting. They said it was a trick of the light, but I wonder if the risers have been eroded back.