The sunken city of Thonis-Heracleion, submerged for centuries in the Mediterranean Sea near Alexandria, has unveiled the remnants of an ancient Egyptian temple dedicated to the god Amun and a sanctuary devoted to the Greek goddess Aphrodite.

This extraordinary discovery was the culmination of years of collaborative efforts by an Egyptian-French archaeological mission, working tirelessly seven kilometers off the Bay of Abou Qir. The revelation was made public by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), the driving force behind the exploration since its initiation in 2000 under the leadership of Franck Goddio.

The remnants of the Amun temple are comprised of colossal stone blocks that appear to have collapsed during a cataclysmic event believed to have occurred in the mid-second century BC. Beneath the temple’s floor, remarkably well-preserved wooden structures were unearthed. Among the treasures recovered from the temple’s treasury were silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry, and alabaster containers that once held precious perfumes, offering a glimpse into the opulence and piety of the city’s former inhabitants.

Beneath the temple’s remains, subterranean structures dating back to the 5th century were discovered, supported by intact wooden posts and beams—a testament to the resilience of ancient craftsmanship. This remarkable find was facilitated by cutting-edge exploration technology, enabling the retrieval of objects buried beneath several meters of clay.

A parallel discovery unfolded at the site—a sanctuary devoted to Aphrodite, where an array of bronze and ceramic artifacts was uncovered. These findings suggest a connection between the city and Greece, as the artifacts are believed to have been imported from Greek lands.

Thonis-Heracleion, in its prime, reigned as Egypt’s foremost Mediterranean port for centuries, until the establishment of Alexandria in 331 BC. Catastrophic earthquakes, tidal waves, and land liquefaction, coupled with rising sea levels, led to its submersion, submerging 110 square kilometers of the Nile Delta beneath the waves.

The presence of the Aphrodite sanctuary temple hints at the peaceful coexistence of Greeks, who migrated to the city, lived there, and worshiped freely. This era marked the commencement of extensive trade and cultural exchange between ancient Egypt and Greece, two mighty civilizations on the Mediterranean stage.

The archaeological mission uncovered Greek weapons at the site, suggesting the deployment of Greek mercenaries to defend the city’s strategic location at the mouth of the Canopic Branch of the Nile, the largest and most navigable in antiquity.

Since the initial discovery of Thonis-Heracleion, the submerged city has yielded an astonishing trove of treasures, including 64 ships, 700 anchors, a cache of gold coins, colossal five-meter statues, and, most notably, the remains of a colossal temple dedicated to the god Amun-Gereb.

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