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2,000-Year-Old Statues Resurface From Sunken City Off Alexandria, Egypt
Greek Reporter ^ | August 22, 2025 | Abdul Moeed

Posted on 08/21/2025 7:43:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway

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.

Grecian Delight supports Greece Ancient statues found off Alexandria Egypt

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.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: alexandria; archaeology; canopus; egypt; franckgoddio; godsgravesglyphs; statues

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1 posted on 08/21/2025 7:43:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: All

Climate Change!!!!

The water level is lowering because Climate Change!!! is raising sea levels and flooding coastal regions!!!

Or something like that!!!

Woe is we!!!


2 posted on 08/21/2025 7:54:21 PM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: nickcarraway

That statues’ arm looks real 2,000 years later.


3 posted on 08/21/2025 8:08:32 PM PDT by bleach (Donaldus Magnus 2024-2028 A.D.)
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To: nickcarraway

Would have been more impressive if they had arose on their own as implied by the headline!


4 posted on 08/21/2025 8:08:45 PM PDT by sjmjax
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To: nickcarraway
”a partially preserved sphinx bearing the cartouche of Ramses II”

What in Egypt doesn’t? I think they’ve misinterpreted that particular cartouche. It should read “Kilroy was here.”

5 posted on 08/21/2025 8:20:54 PM PDT by Flag_This (They're lying.)
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To: nickcarraway

Uh, that looks like a man is inside of the statue with his hair and arm out.

There is no body beneath the statue, nor man’s shadow.

That looks bizarre—even fake.


6 posted on 08/21/2025 8:25:27 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: SunkenCiv

ping!


7 posted on 08/21/2025 8:31:53 PM PDT by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...
This is part of an ongoing underwater excavation. Alexandria got hit by an earthquake during the Middle Ages and the Pharos and nearby parts of the city slid right into the drink.

8 posted on 08/21/2025 9:54:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: AAABEST

Whoops, thanks!


9 posted on 08/21/2025 9:57:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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from the FRchives, sorted:

10 posted on 08/21/2025 10:30:33 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: nickcarraway

11 posted on 08/21/2025 10:36:50 PM PDT by sit-rep (START DEMANDING INDICTMENTS NOW!!!!!)
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To: nickcarraway

I hope the Nasty Cancel Culture Clubbers don’t see them. They’ll want the destroyed or hidden.


12 posted on 08/22/2025 2:04:08 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (You can vote your way into socialist communism, but you will have to shoot your way out.)
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To: bleach

13 posted on 08/22/2025 5:38:04 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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