Homepage Events Projects Gallery Technology Playground Shop About Us Search
Canopic Region Alexandria Napoleon Royal Captain Lena Shoal


Mission Reports



History
  Project Timeline

Mission Reports
  Mission 1999
  Mission 1998
  Mission 1996/97

Maps and Illustrations
  Complete layout Map
  Artist's view Map
  Meet the Sphinxes.. Video
  The ancient Royal.. Map
  The findings in t.. Map

In the News

Gallery
  Gallery 1
  Gallery 2

Exhibitions

Shop

Links



Summary of our 1998 Alexandria Mission


Among the most remarkable finds resulting from the excavations on the island of Antirhodos were a statue of the Great Priest of Isis holding a canopic jar and two Sphinxes, which were laying on limestone slabs. One of the Sphinxes has been identified as probably representing the king Ptolemy the XII, father of Cleopatra. The other Sphinx is also representing a late Ptolemy king.

Near a platform where the temple was sited, the pavement and construction blocks have slid into the harbor and crushed ceramics such as amphorae, vases and an oil lamp which were found underneath, dating from the 1st century and early 2nd century AD which gives an interesting indication about the date after which the land slide happened.

Other key finds have included wood remains from an ancient pier dating back from the 5th century BC, which were found at one end of the island. Wood remains from a cofferdam from a platform built in mortar dating from Ptolemaic times have been excavated on the site of a Royal House. this suggests that more than 2,000 years ago part of the royal district on the island had been levelled with mortar platforms before being carefully paved. Various remnants of red granite columns with Greek inscriptions were also discovered, lying on the original pavement.

This evidence shows that the island of Antirhodos, due probably to its important strategic position, was already used from before Ptolemaic times up to the Carracalla period (3rd century AD). A comprehensive study has been carried out on the statues discovered on the island of Antirhodos, as well as on the coast and on the peninsula of the Poseidium. The research has uncovered:

  • A large black granite head probably representing Octavius (the later emperor Augustus)
  • A larger than life size white marble statue depicting a Ptolemy king in the form of the god Hermes
  • An important head of white marble representing Antonia Minor, mother of Germanicus and Claudius
  • The god Agathodaimon (the 'Guiding Spirit') in the shape of a snake, protector god of Alexandria and of the Alexandrians
  • A large Sphinx with a head of Horus
  • The god Thot-Hermes as an ibis


  • The statues found on the coast have also given an interesting insight into the gods worshiped by the Alexandrians. Studies of the architectural and statuary remains containing hieroglyphic inscriptions have been carried out uncovering interesting information on their origins.