Posted on 01/30/2004 6:53:55 AM PST by vannrox
Alexandria, January 2004. The 2003 joint Aboukir Bay research mission of the Department of Underwater Archaeology of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) led by Franck Goddio has brought to light scientific results of great historic interest.
On the site of the sunken city of Heracleion, discovered in May 2001, archaeological excavations performed around the temple of Heracles have enabled to define the topography of the surroundings of the sanctuary. In this monument a cult to the supreme pharaohnic deity Amon and to his son Konshu (respectively Zeus and Heracles for the Greeks) was held in order to maintain the continuity and legitimacy of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
One of the most impressive items recovered is a 2nd century AD bust of the Nile river god Hapi with cornucopia, probably once attached to a building. Hapi is most likely a predynastic name for the Nile. Later on the Egyptians called the Nile iterw, meaning 'the river', and Hapi became the name of the god of the Nile. As a water god, Hapi was a deity of fertility: he provided water, food and the yearly inundation of the Nile.
During the geological survey which is conveyed parallel to the excavations, construction has been spotted in between the city of Heracleion and East Canopus, which perfectly match the indications given by ancient texts that several human establishments existed once on this portion on the Egyptian land now sunken under the sea.
The mission was made possible by the Hilti Foundation.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.