Egypt.. Photos of an important underwater archaeological discovery in Alexandria

2023-09-19T16:35:32.900Z

Highlights: Treasure found in the city of Tunes Heraklion in the Gulf of Abukir. The city was the largest port on the Nile at the time of Alexander the Great. The site is also home to a temple of the goddess Aphrodite, which dates back to the 5th century BC. The area is still under excavation, with more treasures expected to be found in coming years, says the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. It is located at the meeting point of the Nile Canopus branch with the Mediterranean Sea.

Egyptian authorities announced on Tuesday the discovery of an archaeological treasure represented in a temple of the goddess Aphrodite from the fifth century BC, and a number of archaeological finds belonging to the temple of Amun Grib, during underwater excavations in the sunken city of Tunes Heraklion in the Gulf of Abukir in Alexandria.

The treasure was uncovered by the Egyptian-French archaeological mission between the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute of Maritime Archaeology, inside the temple that included bronze and ceramic vessels imported from Greece, in addition to the remains of buildings supported by wooden beams dating back to the fifth century BC, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The head of the European Institute of Maritime Archaeology, Frank Godio, said that the expedition also found the area where offerings, vows and precious items were stored in the western temple of Amun, a collection of gold ornaments that included earrings in the shape of a lion's head, a wajit eye, a pendant and alabaster utensils that were used to store perfumes and cosmetic ointments, as well as a set of silver dishes that were used in religious and funeral rites, a limestone votive handfist and a duck-shaped jug. of bronze.

For his part, the Director General of the Department of Underwater Antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Islam Selim, said in statements to the site "Sky News Arabia" that "the sunken city of Tunes Heraklion dates back to the eighth century BC and is located 7 kilometers from the coast of Abu Qir, and was considered the largest port of Egypt on the Mediterranean coast before Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria in 331 BC."

Salim revealed more information:

- Earthquakes that struck the country in the past caused the city to submerge completely under the sea, and it was rediscovered in 2000.
- Next to the temple of Aphrodite, which was uncovered today, the city includes a temple of Isibis and a temple of Heracles because the city is so named.
- Before the advent of Alexander the Great, this region was the link between Europe and Asia, as it was the largest Egyptian port at that time at the end of the Canopus branch, one of the seven branches of the Nile at that time.
- The port was located at the meeting point of the Nile Canopus branch with the Mediterranean Sea, and the boats came from Europe in the Mediterranean Sea and entered the Nile through the Canopus branch and reached until Qaft in Qena, and goods were transported via buggy to boats in the Red Sea to set off to Asia and East Africa.
- Due to the importance of the stationing point in the Gulf of Abukir, it is an area full of temples and monuments that have not yet been discovered.
- The excavation of sunken antiquities in that area began in 2000 and every year we discover a new treasure because the research equipment develops every year and helps us reach more discoveries.
- We have found in the same area the wreckage of 73 boats so far, as well as buildings, temple walls and docks, as the area has not yet revealed all its secrets and treasures.

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Egypt.. Photos of an important underwater archaeological discovery in Alexandria