Heracleion, a much prosperous and a known city had been engulfed underwater 1500 years ago. This grand city had also been mentioned by the Greek writer Herodotus, the 5th-century BC historian. He had told a wonderful tale of Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world, who had launched a thousand ships, travelled to Heracleion, then a port of ‘great wealth’, with her glamorous Trojan lover, Paris.
But until 2001, there had been no evidence of the city from this classical tale. But when a group led by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio stumbled upon some relics, it led them to one of the greatest finds of the 21st century, a city underwater. The discovery took place when Goddio had been in search of Napoleon’s warships from the 1798 Battle of the Nile, when he had been defeated by Nelson in these very waters, but to his surprise, he stumbled upon this magnificent discovery. Goddio’s team has since been joined by the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology and the Department of Antiquities of Egypt to produce a wealth of dazzling finds.
Hptercleion can now be added to the number as Egypt's most important port during the time of the later pharaohs . The importance of Heracleion has further been seen by the discovery of 64 ships. The largest number of ancient vessels aver found in one p;ace and a fascinating 700 anchors. The city had been a major motorway junction . It has a naturally navigable channel next to its ancient harbor and a further artificial channel appears to had been dug to accelerate trade.
But until 2001, there had been no evidence of the city from this classical tale. But when a group led by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio stumbled upon some relics, it led them to one of the greatest finds of the 21st century, a city underwater. The discovery took place when Goddio had been in search of Napoleon’s warships from the 1798 Battle of the Nile, when he had been defeated by Nelson in these very waters, but to his surprise, he stumbled upon this magnificent discovery. Goddio’s team has since been joined by the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology and the Department of Antiquities of Egypt to produce a wealth of dazzling finds.
The discoveries include the colossal statues of the Egyptian goddess Isis, the god Hapi, and an unidentified Egyptian pharaoh, all preserved in excellent condition by their muddy burial shroud. Along with these 16ft statues there are hundreds of smaller statues of Egyptian gods, among them the figures that guarded the temple where Cleopatra who was inaugurated as Queen of the Nile. Dozens of sarcophagi have also been found, containing the bodies of mummified animals sacrificed to Amun-Gereb, the supreme god of the Egyptians. Many amulets, or religious charms, have been unearthed, too, showing gods such as Isis, Osiris and Horus. These had been created not only for Egyptians but also for visiting traders who used to incorporate them into their religion or kept them as trinkets.
Hptercleion can now be added to the number as Egypt's most important port during the time of the later pharaohs . The importance of Heracleion has further been seen by the discovery of 64 ships. The largest number of ancient vessels aver found in one p;ace and a fascinating 700 anchors. The city had been a major motorway junction . It has a naturally navigable channel next to its ancient harbor and a further artificial channel appears to had been dug to accelerate trade.
The discovery of Heracleion will now add depth
and detail to our knowledge of the ancient world,
because among the discoveries, there are perfectly
preserved steles (inscribed pillars) decorated with
hieroglyphics. Once translated, they will reveal
much about the religious and political life in this
corner of ancient Egypt. A similar inscription on
the Rosetta stone had been discovered in the
Nile Delta town of Rosetta in 1799 by a
French soldier, and now preserved in the
British Museum, it had cracked the code
of hieroglyphics in the first place.
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