Underwater Archaeologists Uncover Gold and Silver Ritual Treasures in Sunken Egyptian Temple

Tools of the Temple

Underwater archaeologists have made an incredible discovery off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, where they unearthed a sunken temple, and a sanctuary filled with ancient treasures. The temple, dedicated to the god Amun, partially collapsed during a cataclysmic event in the mid-second century B.C. This temple was of great importance, as pharaohs visited it to receive their titles of power from Amun, the supreme god of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, according to the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM).

Located in the ancient port city of Thonis-Heracleion, now submerged and about 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) from Egypt's modern-day coast, the temple was destroyed when a major earthquake and tidal waves caused the land to liquefy and sink into the Nile delta.

During their exploration, archaeologists uncovered a wealth of treasures, including silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry, and alabaster containers once used for perfumes and unguents. Additionally, divers found well-preserved wooden posts and beams dating back to the fifth century B.C.

Franck Goddio, president of IEASM and the French underwater archaeologist leading the excavations, expressed his amazement at the discovery, saying, "It is extremely moving to discover such delicate objects, which survived intact despite the violence and magnitude of the cataclysm."

East of the temple, archaeologists discovered a Greek sanctuary dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love. This sanctuary contained numerous artifacts, including imported bronze and ceramic objects, illustrating that Greeks who traded and settled in the city during the time of the Pharaohs had their own sanctuaries.

The sanctuary also housed a cache of Greek weapons, suggesting that Greek mercenaries were present in the region to defend the access to the Kingdom at the mouth of the Nile's Canopic branch.