SUMMARY
Since 1998 the Hellenic Institute for Ancient and Medieval
Alexandrian Studies has carried out thirteen underwater
archaeological surveys in Alexandria, Egypt. The area
covered, by permission allocated to the Hellenic Mission
by the SCA of Egypt, extends for 14 km east of the
promontory of Silsileh (ancient Cape Lochias) to the
peninsula of Montazah (ancient Small Taposiris). The
surveys focused on a series of sites that were detected
by preliminary diving and through the use of a side-scan
sonar device.
Site 1, at Chatby has
revealed an important number of architectural elements
made of granite, each weighing several tons. It appears
clear that the archaeologists-divers are working on part
of the submerged Royal Quarters where in Ptolemaic times,
among other buildings, was a palace sanctuaty of Isis
and the Mausoleum of Cleopatra.
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Site 2, at Chatby has
revealed in the shallows man-made structures which
have not yet been identified. This coastal zone is in
the vicinity of the Marlyrium of St. Mark.
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More...
Site 3, located at Ibrahimieh,
between 9 to 12 metres depth and at 560 metres distance
from the coast, is a reef that has revealed 58 stone-anchors
of different types and sizes. Some are of the known
variety of the three-hole composite anchors, while others
can be classified as fishing tackles. This site can be
considered among the most important underwater archaeological
sites with stone-anchors, due to the density and diversity
of the finds. On the same reef, a very large lead stock,
weighing some 300 kg., with the lead assembly collar
of a gigantic anchor was also found. This is dated
to the 1st century BC / 1st century AD.
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Site 4, situated in the shallows of
Ibrahimieh, is an extensive submerged stone quarry. It
is believed that the stones used to build the ancient
walls of Alexandria, which were bordering this location,
were extracted from this quarry. A number of schist tombs
were also located within the cavities resulting from
stone extraction.
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Site 5, situated at
Sporting, revealed, in only 3 metres of depth, a very
large submerged complex of rectangular and semi-circular
structures, the purpose of which is still to be determined.
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Site 6, situated at ‘el-Hasan
reef, was explored by the team during November 2001.
It proved to be the location of a previously unknown
a Roman shipwreck.
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More...
The Hellenic Mission, directed by Mr.
Harry Tzalas intends to continue surveying and excavating
this area which includes the sunken part of the ancient
Royal Quarters (east of the Eastern Port of Alexandria)
and continues into the suburbs known in Ptolemaic times
as the ‘Η πρός ’Ελευσίνι Θάλασσα and
in Roman times as Juliopolis or Nicopolis.
Harry Tzalas
President
Hellenic Institute of Ancient and Medieaval
Alexandrian Studies
NEWS FROM OUR LATEST MISSION!
15th Survey of HIAMAS in Alexandria from the 12th to the 26th November 2006.
The aim of the 15th Campaign of the Greek Mission focused on raising, photographing and drawing a large granite block with the mutilated relief of a dignitary rendered in a Pharaonic manner and covered with some hieroglyphs, as well as another block of calcite covered with a hieroglyphic inscription. In the course of the operation another large block of calcite was found. It is also covered with a hieroglyphic inscription. All three artifacts were superficially cleaned from marine incrustations and after been photographed and preliminarily drawn they were replaced in their original position on the seabed.
More slabs and blocks were found scattered in the vicinity of the three blocks, but due to the limitation in time they could not be moved to ascertain if they bear inscriptions.
We will try to decipher the inscriptions, a difficult task because of the poor condition of the surface that is greatly defaced.
During our Spring 2007 campaign we will revisit this location in an attempt to find more inscribed stones.
