Alexandria – In a landmark event, Egypt has successfully recovered three ancient artifacts from the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in 25 years, during the second day of activities dedicated to submerged cultural heritage in Abu Qir Bay.
The operation was attended by Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities; Major General Ahmed Khaled Hassan Said, Governor of Alexandria; the Commander of the Naval Forces; and the Commander of the Northern Military Region, alongside senior officials, ambassadors, and cultural representatives.
The artifacts retrieved include:
• A colossal quartz sphinx statue bearing the cartouche of Pharaoh Ramses II.
• A granite statue of an unidentified figure from the late Ptolemaic period, broken at the neck and knees.
• A marble statue of a Roman nobleman.
In his speech, Minister Sherif Fathy expressed deep gratitude to the Egyptian Armed Forces, the Naval Forces, and the Engineering Authority for their vital role in ensuring the success of this historic recovery. He praised the government’s unwavering support for Egyptian heritage under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, affirming that such achievements safeguard Egypt’s cultural identity and global standing.
The minister further stressed Egypt’s full commitment to UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, noting that some relics will remain in their original submerged locations, while others will be carefully retrieved under strict scientific standards.
Governor Ahmed Khaled highlighted the discovery as not only the recovery of rare artifacts but also as a true reconnection with Egypt’s glorious past. He linked the event to Alexandria’s ongoing transformation through major national projects, including the Abu Qir Metro and Port Abu Qir developments.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the significance of the Abu Qir archaeological site, calling it a living testimony to Egypt’s ancient legacy. He revealed that today’s recovery marks the first of its kind since Egypt ratified the UNESCO convention in 2001. He also hinted at upcoming discoveries, including a sunken ancient ship soon to be announced after ongoing studies.
Excavations have revealed that the site may represent a fully developed Roman-era city, with temples, cisterns, fish farms, ports, and docks—possibly an extension of the western side of the ancient city of Canopus. Archaeological finds include amphorae with trade stamps, parts of a sunken merchant ship carrying nuts and a copper balance, royal statues, sphinx figures, ushabti figurines, stone anchors, and coins from the Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods.
This historic achievement, after a quarter of a century, reaffirms Egypt’s global leadership in heritage preservation and its commitment to sharing its submerged treasures with the world.
Follow the latest news on Google News
