2,000-Year-Old Statues Resurface From Sunken City Off Alexandria, Egypt

Archaeologists have recovered a series of ancient statues from the seabed near Alexandria, Egypt, offering new insight into a once-thriving city submerged for over two millennia. The discoveries were made in Abu Qir Bay, where divers and cranes recently brought several large sculptures and relics to the surface.

The recovered artifacts include royal statues, sphinxes, and carved figures that had been lying beneath the Mediterranean Sea for centuries. Experts say these ancient statues likely belonged to the city of Canopus, a prominent hub during the Ptolemaic (Greek) and Roman periods.

Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city, continues to yield significant finds from its coastal waters, reinforcing its status as a vital center of ancient history.

Buildings, reservoirs, and sacred structures were uncovered The excavation revealed limestone buildings believed to have served various purposes, such as places of worship, housing, and commercial activities. Researchers also identified reservoirs and stone-cut ponds, which were possibly used for storing water and cultivating fish. These structures reveal a highly organized and developed urban landscape.

Among the most notable finds was a partially preserved sphinx bearing the cartouche of Ramses II, one of Egypt’s most renowned pharaohs. Other statues included a headless granite sculpture from the Ptolemaic era and the lower half of a Roman noble figure carved in marble. Many of the pieces show damage from centuries underwater.

The recovery operation drew attention on Thursday when cranes slowly hoisted the statues from the seabed as divers in wetsuits watched and celebrated from the shore.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi said the team can only retrieve selected items based on strict archaeological criteria. He emphasized that the majority of the ruins will remain submerged, forming part of Egypt’s underwater cultural heritage.

In addition to statues and buildings, researchers discovered the remains of a merchant ship, stone anchors, and a harbor crane near a 125-meter (410-feet) dock. The dock is believed to have operated through the Ptolemaic, Roman, and even Byzantine periods, supporting small boats and local trade.

Modern threats to Alexandria’s coastal legacy The city of Canopus, along with the neighboring port of Heracleion, was lost to the sea due to a combination of earthquakes and rising water levels over time. These natural forces gradually swallowed the coastal centers, leaving them buried beneath the bay.

Today, Alexandria itself faces a similar threat. The city is sinking by more than 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) each year and is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. According to the United Nations, even under the most optimistic forecasts, one-third of Alexandria could be underwater or uninhabitable by 2050.

As recovery efforts continue, officials say the finds will help piece together the daily life, trade, and religious practices of one of Egypt’s most dynamic ancient cities.

from the FRchives, sorted:

Submerged Blocks of Alexandria's Ancient Lighthouse Lifted from Seafloor [07/04/2025]
Cities Around the Globe Founded by Alexander the Great [08/15/2024]
Archaeologists Make New Discoveries at Ancient Temple in Sunken City off Egypt's Coast [09/21/2023]
Ancient Rome: Sunken City Devastated by a Tsunami 1,600 Years Ago Discovered off Tunisian Coast [05/29/2023]
Fruit baskets from fourth century BC found in ruins of Thonis-Heracleion [08/15/2021]
LOST AT SEA Stunning Ancient Egyptian shipwreck 'destroyed by earthquake' found in DROWNED city after 2,200 years [07/27/2021]
Archaeologists find ancient Egyptian shipwreck that sank 2,200 years ago when it was hit by falling blocks as temple of Amun was destroyed by a massive earthquake [07/27/2021]
Discovery of the ruined temple in the ancient sunken city of Heracleion, Egypt [12/14/2020]
Decorative ancient mosaic discovered in Alexandria [Kom El-Dikka] [07/21/2019]
Nile Shipwreck Discovery Proves Herodotus Right [03/23/2019]
Found: A Ship Once Described By Herodotus [03/23/2019]
Antony and Cleopatra's long lost tomb 'FOUND and is set to be uncovered' [01/21/2019]
Mystery black sarcophagus opened in Egypt [07/19/2018]
Mysterious giant sarcophagus discovered in Egypt [07/09/2018]
10 Mysterious Underwater Cities You Haven't Heard Of [12/14/2014]
Egypt Archaeologists May Have Found Alexander the Great's Tomb [05/03/2014]
An Ancient City Is Discovered Underwater. What They Found Will Change History Forever [12/07/2013]
Underwater Archaeologist Franck Goddio Finds 1,600-Year-Old City that Vanished 1,200 Years Ago [06/18/2013]
Sunken Egyptian city reveals 1,200-year-old secrets [05/01/2013]
Research Sheds Light On Ancient Egyptian Port And Ship Graveyard [03/29/2013]
Salvaging Cleopatra's Watery Palace [05/26/2010]
Divers explore sunken ruins of Cleopatra's palace [05/25/2010]
The Fate of the Library of Alexandria [05/02/2010]
Threshold to Cleopatra's mausoleum discovered off Alexandria coast [01/01/2010]
Is this Cleopatra's skull? The thrilling finds at the dig to discover Egypt's lost queen [04/20/2009]
Egyptians hope to find Cleopatra's tomb [04/15/2009]
Dig 'may reveal' Cleopatra's tomb [04/15/2009]
Raising Alexandria [ from 2007 ] [10/11/2008]
Earliest Reference Describes Christ as 'Magician' [ sez Ogoistais ] [10/06/2008]
'Indiana Jones'-Like Archeologist Says He's Found Cleopatra's Tomb [05/25/2008]
Egypt: Tomb Of Cleopatra And Lover To Be Uncovered [04/25/2008]
Tsunami that devastated the ancient world could return [03/09/2008]
Hidden City Found Beneath Alexandria [07/25/2007]
Egypt's Sunken Treasures reveals lost world [12/16/2006]
First Tut, now Cleo in Dr Zahi's sights [08/18/2006]
Spotlight interview with Dr. Zahi Hawass [ Tabusiris Magna / tomb of Cleopatra / Mark Anthony ?] [08/17/2006]
Murder, Mayhem and Mystery on Display [Ancient Alexandria] [05/13/2006]
Cleopatra's gems rise from the deep [05/11/2006]
Nile releases city's deep history [ Rhakotis and Alexandria ] [04/21/2006]
Unearthing the Treasures of the Mediterranean [07/09/2005]
Italians Discover Hoard Of Roman Statues (Libya) [06/11/2005]
ARCHAEOLOGY: Ancient Alexandria Emerges, By Land and By Sea [02/26/2005]
The Lake's Progress (Greeks, Roman, Persians And Arabs) [12/10/2004]
Deepest Wreck [10/17/2004]
Halls of Ancient Alexandria's Ivy Found [05/31/2004]
Library of Alexandria discovered [05/17/2004]
Archaeologists discover alma mater of Archimedes [05/09/2004]
New astonishing finds in Aboukir! [01/30/2004]
A Thousand Relics Found in Egypt [01/30/2004]
Bronze Artifacts Found Off Egypt's Coast [01/18/2004]
Rich pickings - "The library of the Mouseion in Alexandria" (might still exist?) [09/30/2002]
Risen from the deep [06/27/2002]
Floods Swept Ancient Nile Cities Away, Experts Says [10/18/2001]

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