Ancient statues, Roman coins and other artefacts from the sinking city were pulled from the Mediterranean off the shores of Egypt on Thursday.
Relics have been dated for more than 2000 years. The Egyptian authorities said the place located in the waters of the Gulf of Abu Qir near Alexandria could be an extension of the ancient Canopus city, the famous center of the Ptolemic dynasty, which ruled Egypt for almost 300 years, and the Roman Empire, which ruled for about 600 years.
Over time, a series of earthquakes and rising sea levels immersed the city of the Thoni-Hraklion port city, leaving the treasure of historical remains.
Divers observe the crane 2025. August 21 Pulls the artifact from the waters of Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria, in Egypt, as an event organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Antique to recover the sinking antiquity. / Credit: Khaled Desouki/ AFP via Getty Images
On Thursday, the cranes slowly lifted the statues from the depths, and the divers of Wetsuit, who helped to regain them, cheered on the shore.
“There are a lot of underwater waters, but what we can raise is limited, it is only a specific material according to strict criteria,” said Sherif Fathi, Minister of Tourism and Antiques. “The rest will remain part of our drowning heritage.”
The ancient artifact is obtained from the Mediterranean in the Gulf of Abu Qir, near Alexandria, Egypt, 2025. August 21 / Credit: Gehad Hamdy / Picture Alliance via Getty Images
On Thursday, the underwater ruins revealed by the ministry include limestone buildings that may have been worship, living space and commercial or industrial structures.
Reservoirs and rock -carved ponds were also unveiled for homemade water storage and fish cultivation.
Other noticeable findings were the statues of the royal figures and the sphinxes from the era of precars, including the partially preserved Sphinx with the Ramses II, one of the most famous and longest -owned ancient Pharaohs.
Archaeologists unveiled the Sphinx statues and marble figures dating back to Rome and Ptolemaic periods in Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria, Egypt. / Credit: Gehad Hamdy/ Picture Alliance via Getty Images
Many statues lack body parts, including the head -cut Ptolemic figure made of granite, while the lower side of the Roman nobleman, carved from marble.
The merchant ship, the stone anchors and the port crane dating back to the Ptolemic and the Roman era, was found in a 125 -meter dock location, which, according to the ministry, was used as a port of small boats before the Byzantine period.
The ancient Roman coins are exhibited after they were lifted from the water in Abu Qir Bay near the Mediterranean Alexandria, Egypt, 2025. August 21 / Credit: AMR Nabil / Ap
According to the Egyptian tourism and ancient ministry, Abu Qir Bay acquired historical significance in 1859, when Prince Oma Touson, Egyptian, and the divers, found the remains of ancient structures.
In addition to sinking cities, many ship debris was found in the bay. The ships include the wreckage of the Napolean Navy from 1798. The Battle of the Nile, the ministry said. The Napolean French Navy was defeated by the British Navy.
Restored artifacts are exhibited in Alexandria, Egypt, after they were pulled out of the Gulf of Abu Qir in 2025. August 21 / Credit: Khaled Desouki / AFP via Getty Images via Getty Images
Today, Alexandria is at risk of surrendering to the same waters that say canopus and Thonis-Eheraclean.
The city of the coast is particularly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, drowned more than three millimeters each year.
Even in the best scenario of the United Nations by 2050. One third of Alexandria will be underwater or uninhabited.
Powell signals the possible reduction of interest rate
Trump reacts to FBI raid at John Bolton’s home, at the office
Food Crisis Group announces Gaza City Bads, hoping to spread