Sunken Antiquities in Alexandria

Prince Omar Tusun was the first to show significant interest in the exploration of sunken antiquities in Alexandria. This interest was sparked after an English pilot reported seeing ancient ruins beneath the waters of Abu Qir. This interest led to the discovery of the temple of the goddess Isis, constructed of red granite, which is now housed in the Maritime Museum. Additionally, a marble head of Alexander the Great, And collection of Roman gold coins, a gold foundation stone from the reign of Ptolemy III were unearthed. The scholar Gaston Cordier mentioned discovering a sunken Pharaonic harbor west of Pharos Island (Ras El Tin) that extended as far as the island near Al Wardyan.

The Sunken City

The city was named Heraklion after the god Heracles, who was the city’s protector. There are also ruins of another city known as Canopus. Both cities enjoyed great prosperity due to the taxes imposed on goods transported between the ports of Alexandria and Canopus (a branch of the Nile). The discovery of coins, jewelry, and large statues is evidence of the wealth of these sunken cities.

Some pictures from the sunken city of Heraklion