New discoveries at Abu Qir bay, Alexandria: Antiquities Ministry
New archaeological discoveries have been unearthed at a site of a sunken temple at the Mediterranean bay: Abu Qir (the ancient port city of Thonis-Heracleion) in Alexandria city, Egypt’s Ministry Antiquities said in a statement.
The Egyptian -French joint archaeological mission; Supreme Council of Antiquities and, the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) discovered a temple of Aphrodite gods that goes to 5th century B.C. They also uncovered also some artefacts belonging to “Amun Grip” Temple, Minister announced .Greek Bronze and Ceramic artefacts were found as well as some building ruins that belong to the 5th century B.C, he added.
“Precious objects belonging to the temple treasury have been unearthed, such as silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry and fragile alabaster containers for perfumes or unguents,” IEASM said.
“The remains of Thonis-Heracleion are now located under the sea, 7 kilometers from the present coast of Abu Qir. The city was for centuries Egypt’s largest port on the Mediterranean before the founding of Alexandria by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. The city has drowned totally because of earthquakes and rediscovered at 2000 A.D”, said the head of the Underwater Archaeology Department at the SCA, Islam Selim.
