Egyptian officials reported that on Thursday, ancient artifacts from a sunken city, dating back over two millennia, were recovered from the .
As reported by The Associated Press, these — comprising a sphinx statue, Roman coins, and other relics— were brought to land by archaeologists and divers working in Abu Qir Bay, close to the Egyptian port city of Alexandria.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) stated that the relics originated from a location potentially serving as an extension of Canopus, an ancient city thriving during both the Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman Empire.
Mohamed Ismail, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, informed AFP that “These artifacts span ancient periods, from the Ptolemaic era, directly following Alexandria’s establishment, and extending to the .”
According to AFP, all the statues were found without their heads and feet—damage that Ismail attributes to a natural catastrophe like a tsunami or an earthquake.
Ismail further asserted, “These artifacts confirm that this location was once a fully developed residential city and that the current area functioned as a port.” He concluded, “These pieces suggest Alexandria became submerged due to a significant earthquake or tsunami, which accounts for all the statues missing their heads and feet.”
Egypt’s second-largest city, Alexandria, possesses a wealth of but is gradually submerging because of rising sea levels. AFP, citing United Nations forecasts, reported that by 2050, one-third of the city will be uninhabitable.
Earlier this year, Egyptian officials revealed a comparable discovery: a 3,000-year-old mining complex, complete with vestiges of ancient homes, workshops, and even baths.
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities did not immediately reply to Digital’s request for comment.