What lost Egyptian city was found underwater after 1200 years?

What lost Egyptian city was found underwater after 1200 years?

1,200 years ago the ancient Egyptian city of Heracleion disappeared beneath the Mediterranean. Prior to its discovery in 2000 by archaeologist Franck Goddio and the IEASM (European Institute for Underwater Archaeology), no trace of Thonis-Heracleion had been found (the city was known to the Greeks as Thonis).

Who found the lost city of Alexandria?

During the 2nd century BC, just as the city was hit by the multiple disasters, the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great, superseded Heracleion as Egypt’s primary port.

What is the lost city of Alexandria?

Thonis-Heracleion
An ancient city exhumed from the depths of the ocean. It was barely more than a legend. Appearing in a few rare inscriptions and ancient texts, the city of Thonis-Heracleion was hidden away for thousands of years, submerged deep under the sea.

When was the lost city of Alexandria found?

But those excavating the ancient Egyptian city of Heracleion have exchanged their sunblock for scuba gear. According to science writer Laura Geggel, the lost city was first discovered off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt in 2000, and has been the subject of regular excavations ever since.

What was found in Heracleion?

(CNN) — Archaeological “treasures,” including Greek ceramics and 2,400-year-old wicker baskets filled with fruit, have been discovered at the site of the ancient sunken city of Thonis-Heracleion, off Egypt’s coast.

Why is Alexandria under water?

The ancient underwater ruins of Cleopatra sunk into the sea more than 1500 years ago. Historians believe that things like earthquakes and tidal waves caused the downfall of Cleopatra’s palace.

How did Alexandria get buried?

Alexander, who requested to be referred to and perceived as the son of Zeus Ammon, did not wish to be buried alongside his actual father at Aegae. Alexander’s body was placed in a coffin of “hammered gold”, according to Diodorus, which was “fitted to the body”.

How did Alexandria sink?

“In Alexandria itself,” writes Nur, “both historical records and archaeological evidence of collapse have shown that the city was devastated both onshore and offshore by an earthquake in the mid- to late-eighth century A.D., and by one or two earlier earthquakes sometime during the period 200 to 600 A.D.”

Who built Atlantis?

Plato told the story of Atlantis around 360 B.C. The founders of Atlantis, he said, were half god and half human. They created a utopian civilization and became a great naval power. Their home was made up of concentric islands separated by wide moats and linked by a canal that penetrated to the center.

What has been found in the sunken city of Heracleion?

Researchers have also uncovered a variety of religious artifacts in the sunken city, including 16-foot stone sculptures thought to have adorned the city’s central temple and limestone sarcophagi that are believed to have contained mummified animals. For more photos, visit Goddio’s Heracleion website.

When is the BP Exhibition sunken cities running?

The BP exhibition Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds runs at the British Museum, London from May 19 to November 27. A year of the world’s Best Beaches There’s a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all

What are some of the most important ancient Egyptian discoveries?

Among the discoveries are colossal statues of the Egyptian goddess Isis, the god Hapi, and an unidentified Egyptian pharaoh — all preserved in immaculate condition by their muddy burial shroud.

What artifacts have been found in ancient Egypt?

Other findings include gold coins, weights from Athens (which have never before been found at an Egyptian site) and giant tablets inscribed in ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian. Researchers think that these artifacts point to the city’s prominence as a bustling trade hub.

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