Lost sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion discovered in Egypt’s Abu Qir bay
Archaeologists uncover a military vessel and Greek-Egyptian relics in the sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion, shedding light on its vibrant history.
Underwater excavations at the sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion, in the bay of Abu Qir near to Alexandria off Egypt’s North Coast, uncovered. (CREDIT Xinhua/Sipa USA)
Beneath the waters of Abu Qir Bay off Egypt's North Coast, the submerged city of Thônis-Heracleion has once again revealed its secrets. A recent underwater archaeological mission uncovered a rare military vessel and a funerary complex, shedding new light on the ancient city that once controlled Egypt's gateway to the Mediterranean.
The military ship, a flat-bottomed vessel with both oars and a large sail, sank in the second century BCE when a catastrophic event brought down the nearby Temple of Amun.
Preliminary studies suggest the 25-meter vessel was crafted in the classical tradition but also incorporated shipbuilding techniques unique to ancient Egypt. This hybrid design, including reused wood and a flat keel, made it particularly suited for navigation on the Nile and its delta.
Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, remarked that the ship was preserved under five meters of compacted clay, mingled with temple debris.
Advanced sub-bottom profiler technology enabled archaeologists to locate it beneath these layers. Franck Goddio, who first discovered the city in 2000, highlighted the rarity of finding such well-preserved naval relics from this era. The fallen temple blocks effectively "nailed" the ship to the canal bed, maintaining its structure for centuries.
Elsewhere in the sunken city, archaeologists revealed a large funerary complex, rich with offerings, dating to the early fourth century BCE.
This discovery underscores the presence of Greek merchants in Thônis-Heracleion during the late Pharaonic dynasties. Greeks, who were allowed to settle in the city, built their sanctuaries near the grand Temple of Amun.
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Tragically, these sanctuaries, along with the temple itself, were destroyed during the same cataclysm that submerged much of the city. The remains of Greek and Egyptian religious structures now lie intermingled on the seabed.
Ehab Fahmy, Head of the Central Department of Underwater Antiquities, emphasized the importance of these findings in illustrating the cultural exchange between ancient Egypt and Greece. "This beautifully illustrates how deeply integrated Greek merchants were in the life of the city," he noted.
Thônis-Heracleion thrived as Egypt's largest port before Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE. Strategically located at the mouth of a western branch of the Nile, it served as a critical hub for trade and cultural exchange for centuries.
However, a series of earthquakes and tidal waves triggered by land liquefaction submerged the city, along with an extensive 110-square-kilometer section of the Nile Delta. The devastation also claimed the nearby city of Canopus. Both cities lay forgotten until rediscovered in the late 20th century by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).
The Temple of Amun, a centerpiece of the ancient city, has provided archaeologists with invaluable insights into Thônis-Heracleion's spiritual and social life.
The temple's remains, including ornate blocks and statues, were found remarkably well-preserved, having slipped into a deep canal during the catastrophic collapse. These relics highlight the grandeur of the city's sanctuaries, now submerged seven kilometers off Egypt's modern coastline.
Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, highlighted the innovative methods used to uncover these artifacts. "This discovery is a testament to how modern technology allows us to peel back layers of history," he said. Cutting-edge sonar and imaging tools have been instrumental in documenting these findings, ensuring that future generations can study them.
Today, the submerged ruins of Thônis-Heracleion continue to captivate archaeologists and historians alike. Each new discovery not only unearths pieces of the past but also deepens our understanding of the interconnected world of ancient civilizations.
The city's remains, preserved under layers of sediment and sea, are a poignant reminder of nature's power and humanity's resilience.
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