Ancient temple for Aphrodite and opulent treasures found in underwater ruins. See them
Moira Ritter
Thu, September 21, 2023
Some 2,500 years ago, the opulent city of Thonis-Heracleion reigned as Egypt’s only port on the Mediterranean coast, serving as the entry for all ships coming from the Greek empire.
When earthquakes hit the region in the eighth century, the city disappeared in almost an instant, sinking into the sea. In the centuries that followed, Thonis-Heracleion was all but forgotten, existing only in ancient texts and rare archaeological finds.
Then, in 2000, a team of archaeologists led by Franck Goddio finally succeeded in locating, mapping and beginning to excavate the ancient city from its underwater location, according to Goddio’s website. Since his initial discovery, Goddio and other experts have continued exploring the ancient ruins.
The team’s latest discoveries included a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite dating to the fifth century B.C., Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a Sept. 19 news release. Inside the temple’s remains, experts found bronze and ceramic artifacts as well as the remains of wooden beams from ancient buildings.
Among the discoveries was a duck-shaped bronze jug, according to officials in Egypt. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Archaeologists also excavated a trove of artifacts from the city’s Western Temple of Amun, according to officials.
Archaeologists discovered gold jewelry in the ruins of the city’s Western Temple of Amun, officials said. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Among the discoveries was a pair of gold earrings in the shape of a lion’s head, a gold pendant, alabaster containers used to hold perfume and cosmetics, a set of silver dishes used for religious and funerary rituals, a limestone handle and a duck-shaped bronze jug.
A set of dishes used for religious and funerary rituals was also found in the underwater ruins, archaeologists said. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Officials said the sunken city is about 4 miles off the coast of Abu Qir, which is on the northern coast of Egypt about 10 miles northeast of Alexandria.
Moira Ritter
Thu, September 21, 2023
Some 2,500 years ago, the opulent city of Thonis-Heracleion reigned as Egypt’s only port on the Mediterranean coast, serving as the entry for all ships coming from the Greek empire.
When earthquakes hit the region in the eighth century, the city disappeared in almost an instant, sinking into the sea. In the centuries that followed, Thonis-Heracleion was all but forgotten, existing only in ancient texts and rare archaeological finds.
Then, in 2000, a team of archaeologists led by Franck Goddio finally succeeded in locating, mapping and beginning to excavate the ancient city from its underwater location, according to Goddio’s website. Since his initial discovery, Goddio and other experts have continued exploring the ancient ruins.
The team’s latest discoveries included a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite dating to the fifth century B.C., Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a Sept. 19 news release. Inside the temple’s remains, experts found bronze and ceramic artifacts as well as the remains of wooden beams from ancient buildings.
Among the discoveries was a duck-shaped bronze jug, according to officials in Egypt. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Archaeologists also excavated a trove of artifacts from the city’s Western Temple of Amun, according to officials.
Archaeologists discovered gold jewelry in the ruins of the city’s Western Temple of Amun, officials said. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Among the discoveries was a pair of gold earrings in the shape of a lion’s head, a gold pendant, alabaster containers used to hold perfume and cosmetics, a set of silver dishes used for religious and funerary rituals, a limestone handle and a duck-shaped bronze jug.
A set of dishes used for religious and funerary rituals was also found in the underwater ruins, archaeologists said. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Officials said the sunken city is about 4 miles off the coast of Abu Qir, which is on the northern coast of Egypt about 10 miles northeast of Alexandria.
Sunken temple reveals ‘treasures and secrets’ in mysterious underwater city
Jabed Ahmed
Fri, September 22, 2023
“Precious objects belonging to the temple treasury have been unearthed, such as silver ritual instruments, gold jewellery and fragile alabaster containers for perfumes or unguents,” IEASM said in a statement. “They bear witness to the wealth of this sanctuary and the piety of the former inhabitants of the port city.”
The Amun temple was where pharaohs came to receive the titles of their power as universal kings, the institute said.
Founded around 2,500 years ago near the mouth of the Nile, Thonis-Heracleion, was once the biggest port city in the Mediterranean Sea.
Under the floor level of the Amun temple, wooden structures were discovered dating back to the 5th Century BC (Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation)
Until the port of Alexandria was established, it was a significant political site, a hub of ritual ceremonies for the ruling class and a required point of entry into Egypt for all ships coming from Greece.
The discoveries were made with the use of new geophysical mining technologies that can detect cavities and objects buried under layers of clay several metres thick.
“It is extremely moving to discover such delicate objects, which survived intact despite the violence and magnitude of the cataclysm,” said Frank Goddio, the president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology.
It is believed that rising water, a series of earthquakes, and a tidal wave contributed to sinking of the city of Thonis-Heracleion in the 8th Century AD. The city’s name and story had become lost through the centuries, only being mentioned in passing in ancient classic texts and rare inscriptions.
Mr Goddio and his team have been working for the past two decades to uncover the secrets of the lost city after it was discovered in 2000.
Jabed Ahmed
Fri, September 22, 2023
They lay hidden on the ocean bed for more than 1,000 years, but now the treasures and secrets of an ancient city off the coastline of Egypt are being uncovered.
The remains of a massive temple and a sanctuary dedicated to the Greek goddess of Aphrodite have been discovered in the underwater port city of Thonis-Heracleion by a team led by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).
The team explored the city’s south canal, where huge blocks of stone from the Amun temple were believed to have crumbled “during a cataclysmic event dated to the mid-2nd Century BC”, according to the IEASM.
The search also revealed gold and silver treasure from the sunken temple, including artifacts that were used to bless the pharaohs as they ascended to the throne. It also found the sanctuary to Aphrodite along with ancient Greek weapons.
The discoveries suggest that Greeks were allowed to relocate, live and worship in the ancient Egyptian city, now located in the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria.
The remains of a massive temple and a sanctuary dedicated to the Greek goddess of Aphrodite have been discovered in the underwater port city of Thonis-Heracleion by a team led by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).
The team explored the city’s south canal, where huge blocks of stone from the Amun temple were believed to have crumbled “during a cataclysmic event dated to the mid-2nd Century BC”, according to the IEASM.
The search also revealed gold and silver treasure from the sunken temple, including artifacts that were used to bless the pharaohs as they ascended to the throne. It also found the sanctuary to Aphrodite along with ancient Greek weapons.
The discoveries suggest that Greeks were allowed to relocate, live and worship in the ancient Egyptian city, now located in the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria.
“Precious objects belonging to the temple treasury have been unearthed, such as silver ritual instruments, gold jewellery and fragile alabaster containers for perfumes or unguents,” IEASM said in a statement. “They bear witness to the wealth of this sanctuary and the piety of the former inhabitants of the port city.”
The Amun temple was where pharaohs came to receive the titles of their power as universal kings, the institute said.
Founded around 2,500 years ago near the mouth of the Nile, Thonis-Heracleion, was once the biggest port city in the Mediterranean Sea.
Under the floor level of the Amun temple, wooden structures were discovered dating back to the 5th Century BC (Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation)
Until the port of Alexandria was established, it was a significant political site, a hub of ritual ceremonies for the ruling class and a required point of entry into Egypt for all ships coming from Greece.
The discoveries were made with the use of new geophysical mining technologies that can detect cavities and objects buried under layers of clay several metres thick.
“It is extremely moving to discover such delicate objects, which survived intact despite the violence and magnitude of the cataclysm,” said Frank Goddio, the president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology.
It is believed that rising water, a series of earthquakes, and a tidal wave contributed to sinking of the city of Thonis-Heracleion in the 8th Century AD. The city’s name and story had become lost through the centuries, only being mentioned in passing in ancient classic texts and rare inscriptions.
Mr Goddio and his team have been working for the past two decades to uncover the secrets of the lost city after it was discovered in 2000.
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