The European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) has announced new discoveries at a sunken temple site off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. Led by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio, an underwater team explored the temple to god Amun in the ancient port city of Thonis-Heracleion. They investigated the south canal where massive stone blocks from the temple collapsed during a cataclysmic event in the mid-second century BC. The temple was a place where pharaohs received titles of power from the supreme god Amun.
The excavations unearthed precious objects like silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry, and alabaster containers, showcasing the temple’s wealth. The site also revealed underground structures supported by well-preserved wooden posts and beams from the 5th century BC. These findings were made possible by new geophysical prospecting technologies.
East of the Amun temple, a Greek sanctuary dedicated to Aphrodite was discovered, shedding light on the presence of Greek traders and Greek mercenaries defending the Canopic Branch of the Nile. Thonis-Heracleion, once Egypt’s largest Mediterranean port, now lies 7 kilometers from the current Egyptian coast, submerged due to rising sea levels, earthquakes, and tidal waves.
Discovered by IEASM in 2000, this ancient city’s secrets continue to surface, providing insights into Egypt’s rich history.
