2,000-year-old sunken city's treasure discovered in Egypt, secrets revealed

Archaeologists in Egypt have recovered a remarkable collection of artifacts from a 2,000-year-old sunken city off the coast of Abu Qir Bay, near Alexandria. The discovery, announced on Thursday, includes a headless statue, a sphinx, and a priest figure believed to date back to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

Using cranes and divers, the team carefully retrieved the treasures from the shallow waters, offering a rare glimpse into the life and culture of ancient Egypt. Officials noted that while much still lies beneath the sea, only select artifacts can be lifted according to strict heritage protection rules. The recovered relics will undergo restoration before being displayed at Alexandria’s National Museum in a new exhibition.

Treasure lifted from the deep ocean

The operation was carried out by archaeologists and divers who meticulously worked throughout the day to bring the artifacts to the surface. Cranes lifted the heavy stone relics while reporters and officials observed the historic recovery. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, the site may have been an extension of the ancient city of Canopus, a once-thriving settlement that played a key role in trade and religion.

Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, emphasized that most of the treasures would remain underwater as part of the nation’s “sunken heritage.” This is in line with UNESCO’s Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, which Egypt signed in 2001 to protect submerged archaeological sites. Only specific artifacts meeting strict criteria are allowed to be retrieved, ensuring that the integrity of the site is preserved for future generations.

Insights into the ptolemaic and Roman periods

The artifacts provide valuable clues about Egypt’s past, spanning successive periods from the Ptolemaic era, which lasted nearly 300 years, to the Roman rule that followed for around six centuries. According to Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, these objects reflect the blending of Greek and Egyptian cultures during these times.The newly recovered relics are now undergoing restoration before joining the Secrets of the Sunken City exhibition at the Alexandria National Museum. The exhibition, which opened this week, already features 86 rare artifacts that illustrate everyday life, religion, and art during Egypt’s Ptolemaic and Roman eras. Officials say the new additions will further enrich public understanding of this submerged chapter of Egyptian history.