This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 151
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The Egyptian Department of Underwater Antiquities has recovered three heavy ancient artefacts from the seabed off the coast at Abu Qir Bay in Alexandria. One of them is a large quartz sphinx bearing the cartouches of Ramesses II. The team also recovered a granite torso from the Ptolemaic Period, as well as a marble statue of a Roman nobleman.
Further underwater finds have been found by the Dominican Archaeological Mission working at Taposiris Magna. Work there has confirmed the presence of an ancient port, which once connected the temple to the Mediterranean Sea. The remains of columns and stone flooring were found 12 metres underwater, together with stone and metal anchors of various sizes, and broken amphorae.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
