An archival image depicting the coast of Alexandria, Egypt.
Egypt`s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced a significant archaeological breakthrough: three monumental statues have been successfully recovered from the seabed off the coast of Alexandria.
According to the ministry`s statement, these massive artifacts were brought to the surface in the Abu Qir Bay area, a suburb of Alexandria.
Among the retrieved treasures are a quartz sphinx bearing the cartouche (name ring) of Pharaoh Ramesses II, a substantial granite statue thought to depict a figure from the Ptolemaic dynasty, and an elegant marble statue representing ancient Roman nobility.
Sherif Fathi, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, emphasized that some underwater cultural heritage artifacts would remain in situ to preserve their historical value, while others would be excavated strictly according to scientific standards and under rigorous supervision.
Mohammed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, highlighted that this marks the first instance in 25 years that Egyptian authorities have independently retrieved such artifacts from the Mediterranean Sea.
Abu Qir Bay, the site of these discoveries, is home to the submerged ancient city of Heracleion. Scholars believe this city, founded around the 8th century BCE, served as a crucial trading hub and port of ancient Egypt until Alexandria was established in 331 BCE. Heracleion sank approximately 1200 years ago, and its ruins now lie submerged at depths of up to 45 meters, forming a unique underwater archaeological museum discovered in 2000.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth