The Discovery of the Lost Ancient City of Thonis Heracleion

There is a fine line that separates mythology and reality. In fact, we have learned that ancient cities that were originally thought to be myths, such as Troy and Ur, actually did exist with the discovery of archaeological evidence, likewise with the story of the ancient city of Heracleion. Considered a myth for hundreds of years, Heracleion is said to have been swallowed up by the Mediterranean Sea, buried by sand and mud for 1,200 years. It was the largest city as well as the administrative capital of the Crete Island in Greek. This ancient city was mentioned in various writings written by ancient Greek philosophers. Heracleion is considered never existed until its existence was proven in the 19th century not far from Alexandria, Aboukir Bay. The name Heracleion is immortalized from the name of Heracles, who is believed to have visited this metropolis in his day.

In 1987, marine archaeologist Franck Goddio founded the Institut Européen d’Archéologie Sous-Marine (European Institute of Underwater Archaeology) to concentrate solely on excavations at the bottom of the water. He later found several important shipwrecks including the San Diego found in Philippine waters and Napoleon Bonaparte’s flagship during his campaigns in Egypt. The sunken ancient port city of Thonis Heracleion and parts of the city of Canopus on Aboukir Bay have been his most important excavations to date. Partnering with Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, Franck Goddio and his team have pulled some incredible artifacts from the ocean floor.

Prior to its discovery in 2000, no trace of Thonis-Heracleion had been found. During excavations Heracleion slowly revealed the veil of ancient secrets. Archaeologists discovered the remains of a large temple, including its stone columns, and the remains of a small Greek temple, which was buried under 1 meter of sediment on the seabed. So far, archaeologists have lifted 16 giant statues and found hundreds of small statues of gods scattered on the seabed, sink as deep as 45 meters below sea level. Dozens of limestone sarcophagi were also recently discovered by divers. According to franckgoddio.org, a temple wall nearly five hundred feet long was found as well as a gold plaque inscribed with Greek letters indicating that King Ptolemy III had built a temple dedicated to Heracles. Three large statues made of pink granite representing the King, Queen and Hapy (God of fertility and abundance) have been removed and have been examined. The statues are over 16 feet tall and weigh more than five tons. Steles, (tall, inscribed pillars that usually indicate direction), odes of pink granite are also found with Greek and Egyptian inscriptions. Several Doric columns from Greek temples and coins, including one Byzantine gold from the 4th century, another bronze also from the 4th century were found along with Byzantine earrings. Lead stone and bronze scales to measure goods for tax were also brought along and a dark stone statue of a woman wearing the tunic of the goddess Isis who was probably Cleopatra because she was identified so closely with Isis. In addition, hundreds of small statues of gods and pharaohs, amulets, pottery shards, and small ships from the 6th to 2nd centuries BC were found at the bottom of the sea. The team used a scanning tool that transmits images of artifacts on the ocean floor and those buried beneath. The scanning tool reveals parts of the ship. During earlier excavations, archaeologists have uncovered 75 ships, though not all of them are complete. The new find is a missing piece from ship which is identified as number 61, which was likely used for ceremonial purposes. The ship 61 is not a small boat, with a length of about 13 m and a width of 5 m. On board were found bronze and gold coins, as well as jewellery. All that tells us that ports are economically important because of the collection of taxes and customs duties from foreign ships.

One of the most important artifacts lifted from the sea is a magnificent black inscription two meters high and engraved with hieroglyphics. The discovery of the inscription is important to archaeologists as it helps solve several other great mysteries. By comparing them to other written monuments, experts were able to determine that Thonis and Heracleion were not what was previously believed. Instead of being two different cities, they turned out to be a single city that was well known to both Egypt and Greece. This black granite inscription ordered by Pharaoh Nectanebo I circa 360 BC was brought and found to be almost identical to the Naucratic inscription in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo.

Thonis-Heracleion was built around the eighth century BC. The city served as ‘the mandatory port of entry into Egypt for all ships coming from Greece’, before the founding of Alexandria around 331 BC. The bustling trading centre reached its peak between the sixth and fourth centuries BC. The buildings spread out around the central shrine, with a system of canals connecting different parts of the city. Houses and other religious buildings stand on islands near the heart of Thonis-Heracleion.

There is little information about the ancient cities other than the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus who lived in the 5th century BC. His writings include the account of the great temple built where the hero Heracles, son of Zeus and the same man called Hercules in Rome, landed in Egypt. He also tells us that Helen and Paris visited the city before the Trojan War.

The Mediterranean region is famous not only for its above-ground volcanoes but many that form underwater. Seismic activity such as the earthquake that toppled the Alexandria lighthouse is said to be responsible for the sinking of Thonis Heracleion. Between the seismic activity and the tsunami that almost always followed it made the city sink into the sea gradually until the end of the 8th century AD when the last part sank beneath the waves. Franck Goddio estimates only five percent of the city has been discovered and excavations are still ongoing with more artifacts to be revealed.