General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, Dr. Mostafa Waziri November 21, spoke about the discovery of four sunken ships. Three of them, dating from the Roman period, were found in the harbor of Alexandria, the fourth in the Gulf of Abu Kir, where the sunken cities of Heracleon and Canopus were previously found. Also, the researchers discovered artifacts associated with the Roman rulers Mark Antony and Octavian Augustus. Underwater work was carried out in conjunction with the European Institute of Underwater Archeology, according to a press release received by the editorial office of N + 1.
The cities of Canopus and Heraklion were founded in the Nile Delta around the 8th century BC. These port cities were the largest centers of trade between the Egyptians and the Greeks. However, after the founding of Alexandria in 332 BC, both cities lost their positions. Both Canopus and Heracleon roughly existed until the second half of the 8th century AD, until, for unknown reasons, they sank under water.
After the founding of Alexandria, it became the main commercial and cultural center of Egypt. The kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty, who ruled in 323-30 BC, made it the capital of the country. During the reign of the last of them, Cleopatra VII, a struggle for power began between Mark Antony, ruler of the eastern provinces of the Roman Republic and lover of the queen of Egypt, and Guy Octavius, ruler of the western part of the country and future emperor Octavian Augustus. Cleopatra supplied the troops of Mark Antony with food, in addition, part of the Roman fleet was built with Egyptian money. After a series of skirmishes and subsequent reconciliations, in 31 BC, a decisive naval battle took place in Greece. Mark Antony and Cleopatra were defeated and fled to Alexandria. The next year, Octavian attacked Egypt. After the defeat of his troops, Mark Antony,and later, Cleopatra, committed suicide. Egypt was annexed and became a Roman province.
Egypt Ministry of Antiquities
The staff of the European Institute of Underwater Archeology has been conducting underwater work off the coast of Egypt for over 20 years. Over the years, researchers have discovered the sunken cities of Canopus and Heracleon near the shores of Alexandria. During the 2017 field season, they found a ritual boat of the Egyptian god Osiris in Heracleon, which apparently served to transport the statue of the god during solemn processions. Also, during excavations in the Eastern Harbor of Alexandria, archaeologists found three sunken ships of the Roman period, a sculptural head, possibly belonging to Mark Antony, and three gold coins (aurea), which were minted during the reign of Octavian Augustus.
Egypt Ministry of Antiquities
Egypt Ministry of Antiquities
Next year, the researchers plan to continue work in the Abu Kir Bay. According to the head of the Central Department of Underwater Antiquities, Dr. Osama Alnahas, during preliminary excavations, scientists found wooden ship siding and ceramic shards. Therefore, they expect to find another sunken ship.
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In 2015, the Egyptian authorities approved a project for the reconstruction of the ancient Alexandria lighthouse. It will be built on the island of Pharos in the bay of Alexandria, where the historic lighthouse was located.
Ekaterina Rusakova
