In the year 2000, French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio set out to locate 18th-century French warships in the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt’s coast. Instead, he stumbled upon a discovery that would rewrite history: the fabled city of Thonis-Heracleion, a once-thriving metropolis long thought to be a myth. Hidden beneath layers of sand and sediment in Aboukir Bay, some 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the modern Egyptian coastline, this ancient port city emerged from the depths, revealing a treasure trove of artifacts and a glimpse into a vibrant hub of trade and culture over 2,000 years ago. Often called the “Atlantis of Egypt,” Thonis-Heracleion’s rediscovery has captivated the world, offering clues to its grandeur and the mystery of its disappearance beneath the waves.
A Legendary City Rediscovered
Thonis-Heracleion, known as Thonis to the Egyptians and Heracleion to the Greeks, was Egypt’s primary port before the founding of Alexandria in 331 BC. Founded around the 8th century BC, it thrived as the gateway for trade between Egypt and the Mediterranean world, welcoming ships laden with goods like Greek wine, Phoenician cedar, and Nubian gold. The city, located at the Canopic Mouth of the Nile, was a melting pot of cultures, where Egyptian and Greek merchants, priests, and mercenaries mingled. Its religious significance was profound, centered around the grand temple of Amun-Gereb, where pharaohs received divine blessings as universal kings.
For centuries, the city’s existence was preserved only in ancient texts by historians like Herodotus and Strabo, who described its temple and its role as a bustling port. Myths swirled around it, with tales of Heracles setting foot in Egypt and Helen of Troy seeking refuge with Paris before the Trojan War. Yet, by the 8th century AD, Thonis-Heracleion had vanished beneath the Mediterranean, leaving no trace until Goddio’s team, from the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), rediscovered it in 2000 after years of meticulous surveying starting in 1996.
A Treasure Trove Beneath the Waves
The underwater ruins of Thonis-Heracleion, buried under 10 meters (33 feet) of water and layers of clay and sediment, revealed an astonishing array of artifacts, preserved remarkably well by the protective silt of the Nile Delta:
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64 Ships: The largest collection of ancient shipwrecks ever found, these vessels range from merchant ships to a rare Ptolemaic galley (discovered in 2021), a 25-meter-long warship with a flat bottom suited for navigating the Nile. Many were trapped under debris from collapsing temples during cataclysmic events.
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700 Anchors: These stone and lead anchors, lined up as if parked in a harbor, testify to the city’s role as a bustling maritime hub, controlling trade at the Nile’s Canopic branch.
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Gold Coins and Jewelry: A trove of gold coins, jewelry, and a lapis lazuli Djed pillar (a symbol of stability) from the 5th century BC highlight the city’s wealth and craftsmanship.
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16-Foot Statues: Colossal red granite statues, including a 5.4-meter (17.7-foot) figure of Hapy, the god of the Nile’s inundation, and fragmented statues of a Ptolemaic king and queen, were found near the temple of Amun-Gereb, showcasing the city’s monumental art.
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Temple of Amun-Gereb: The heart of the city, this grand temple was where pharaohs were crowned and the Mysteries of Osiris were celebrated annually. Huge stone blocks, silver ritual dishes, and alabaster containers for perfumes were uncovered, preserved from a collapse in the 2nd century BC.
The city’s layout, crisscrossed by canals and basins, resembled a Venetian-like network, with temples, homes, and marketplaces spread across islands. A 2-meter-high black granodiorite stele, commissioned by Pharaoh Nectanebo I (380–362 BC), confirmed that Thonis and Heracleion were the same city, solving a long-standing Egyptological mystery.
How Did It Sink?
The submersion of Thonis-Heracleion remains a subject of fascination and study. Geological research by the IEASM and other institutions points to a combination of factors:
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Soil Liquefaction: Earthquakes, including a devastating one in the 2nd century BC and another in the 8th century AD, likely caused the city’s clay-heavy soil to liquefy, leading to the collapse of structures like the temple of Amun-Gereb. A Ptolemaic galley was found crushed under temple debris, evidence of a cataclysmic event.
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Rising Sea Levels: Gradual sea level rise, combined with the subsidence of the Nile Delta, contributed to the city’s slow inundation over centuries.
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Tsunamis and Floods: A massive tsunami in AD 365 devastated Mediterranean coastlines, likely accelerating the city’s demise. By the 8th century AD, the entire city was underwater.
These natural disasters, compounded by the unstable clay and sand foundation, sent Thonis-Heracleion into the depths, where it lay forgotten for over 1,200 years.
A Window into Ancient Life
The artifacts recovered from Thonis-Heracleion paint a vivid picture of a multicultural hub. A Greek sanctuary to Aphrodite, found east of the Amun temple, contained imported bronze and ceramic objects, indicating Greek settlers and traders were active during the Saïte Dynasty (664–525 BC). Greek weapons suggest mercenaries defended the city, guarding access to the Nile. The Mysteries of Osiris, an annual festival, involved a ceremonial boat carrying the god’s statue from the temple of Amun-Gereb to Canopus, a ritual detailed in texts from Dendera and the Decree of Canopus.
The city’s peak activity spanned the 6th to 4th centuries BC, with trade and religious life thriving until Alexandria surpassed it in the 2nd century BC. Artifacts like a granodiorite statue of a Ptolemaic queen (possibly Cleopatra II or III) and a bronze oil lamp reflect the blend of Egyptian and Greek aesthetics, showcasing the city’s role as a cultural crossroads.
Ongoing Discoveries and Global Impact
Since 2000, Goddio’s team, in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and funded by the Hilti Foundation, has excavated only about 5% of the city, which spans roughly 6 by 9 miles. Recent finds in 2023 include silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry, and alabaster containers from the temple treasury, now displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza and the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria. The Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA), established in 2003, continues to study these artifacts, advancing our understanding of ancient trade and religion.
Exhibitions like “Egypt’s Sunken Treasures” (2005–2019) have brought Thonis-Heracleion’s wonders to global audiences, with stops in Paris, London, and the U.S. Documentaries, such as “Heracleion: Sunken City of Egypt” by National Geographic, showcase the underwater excavations, while books like “Underwater Archaeology in the Canopic Region” by Goddio detail the scientific process.
A Mystery Resurfacing
Thonis-Heracleion’s rediscovery is more than an archaeological triumph; it’s a portal to a lost world where Egyptian and Greek cultures intertwined. The 64 ships, 700 anchors, gold coins, and 16-foot statues tell a story of wealth, trade, and devotion, while the temple of Amun-Gereb anchors the city’s spiritual legacy. Yet, the question of how this vibrant metropolis sank beneath the Mediterranean continues to intrigue, with ongoing excavations promising new answers.
As Franck Goddio notes, “We are just at the beginning of our research.” With only a fraction of the city explored, Thonis-Heracleion holds countless secrets waiting to be uncovered. For now, it stands as a testament to human ingenuity, the power of nature, and the enduring allure of a city frozen in time beneath the waves.
