A group of archaeologists has made surprising discoveries at a temple in the submerged city of Thonis-Heracleion near Egypt’s coast.
New ‘treasures and secrets.’
That’s how a group of marine archaeologists describe the exceptional findings made underwater off Egypt’s coast.
The new discoveries were made possible thanks to the development and use of new technology capable of detecting objects buried under several meters of thick layers of mud, according to CNN.
Collapsed during a ‘catastrophic event.’
Beneath the waters off the Egyptian Mediterranean coast lie the remains of the ancient port city of Thonis-Heracleion.
For several centuries, before the founding of Alexandria, Thonis-Heracleion was Egypt’s largest port city in the area. However, earthquakes, rising water levels, and river waves swallowed a large part of the Nile Delta, including the city.
The submerged city was discovered in 2000, and since then, marine archaeologists have made new findings on the site.
Remains of an Amun temple
In Thonis-Heracleion, there was a temple erected in honor of the god Amun.
Recently, a group of marine archaeologists explored the city’s southern canal, where they found large stone blocks that had broken away from the Amun temple.
The collapse of the temple is said to have occurred during a ‘catastrophic event’ in 250 BC, according to the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).
Treasures from the temple have been found
The pharaohs came to the Amun temple to ‘receive the titles of their power as universal kings from the highest god in the ancient Egyptian pantheon,’ according to IEASM in a statement.
Here, there were gold, jewelry, and ritual objects.
Parts of the treasure have now been found on the seabed. During their dives, archaeologists have found objects like silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry, and fragile containers in alabaster for perfumes and medicinal ointments.
Gifts from the gods from Greece
The archaeologists did not only find Egyptian divine offerings.
East of the Amun temple, a Greek sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite was discovered, with bronze and ceramic items.
This suggests, according to IEASM, that Greek merchants were allowed to trade and settle in the city around 2600 years ago.
The discovery of Greek weapons also reveals the presence of Greek mercenaries in the area during that time.