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.
The work conveyed, particularly on the channel located north of the temple, has
brought to light an astonishing quantity of ritual bronze instruments and
vases, as well as cult offering objects. Those show that this channel, oriented
east to west, was a ritual way of great importance. The magnificence of
artefacts discovered indicate that this sanctuary was superbly honoured and
maintained by the Ptolemy kings. The city of Heracleion, besides being one of
the most prominent religious centers, also used to be a very active trading
port as early as the 6th century BC. Its superb infrastructure is very well
illustrated by the 16 antique wrecks dating back from the 6th century BC to the
2nd century BC discovered in the submerged port basin.
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.
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An archaeologist has discovered a
bronze statue of a Bastet cat. Site of Heracles� submerged temple, 5th - 3rd
century BC.
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An archaeologist is uncovering a
large bronze support for ritual objects. Site of Heracles� submerged temple,
5th-3rd century BC.
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Display of ritual bronze basins,
vases and instruments found during the archaeological excavation of the great
canal of submerged Heracleion, 5th-3rd century BC.
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A diver is looking at a 2nd century
AD bust of the Nile river god Hapi with cornucopia, probably once attached to a
to a building.
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�Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation,
Photographer: Christoph Gerigk
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