Goddess Aphrodite Temple Unearthed in Sunken City in Alexandria

The joint Egyptian-French archeological mission between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute of Marine Archeology uncovered the temple of the goddess Aphrodite from the 5th century BC, along with a number of archeological findings belonging to the temple of Amun Jurib, during underwater excavations in the sunken city of Thonis Heracleion in Abu Qir Bay in Alexandria.

Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities explained that the mission found inside the temple bronze and ceramic artifacts imported from Greece, in addition to the remains of buildings supported by wooden beams.

Frank Judeo, president of the European Institute of Marine Archeology noted that the team also found the area where offerings and valuable items were stored at the Western Temple of Amun, including a set of gold ornaments-made earrings in the shape of a lion's head, an agit's eye, a prayer, and alabaster utensil that were used to store perfumes and cosmetic ointments, in addition to a set of ritual items made in silver that were used in religious and funerary events, as well as a votive hand grip in limestone and a bronze duck-shaped pitcher.

Islam Salim, Director General of the Sunken Antiquities Department said that the sunken city of Thonis Heracleion is located 7 km from the coast of Abu Qir, and was considered the largest port of Egypt on the Mediterranean coast before Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria in 331 BC.

The earthquakes that hit the country in the past caused the city to completely sink under the sea. It was rediscovered in 2000.