During the past quarter-century, three gigantic ancient monuments have been brought back from beneath the Mediterranean off Abu Qir, Egypt. Their recovery has reawakened global attention to the submerged city of Canopus—once the thriving Nile Delta port that sank beneath the waves more than a millennium ago.

The recovery took place during the Underwater Cultural Heritage operations, attended by senior Egyptian officials. Courtesy of Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The recovery took place during the Underwater Cultural Heritage operations, attended by senior Egyptian officials, including Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Governor of Alexandria Major General Ahmed Khaled Hᴀssan Said, the Commander of the Navy, and the Commander of the Northern Military Region. Foreign diplomats, ambᴀssadors, and consuls witnessed the operation, stressing its cultural significance.

Among the newly discovered artifacts is a colossal quartz sphinx statue bearing the cartouche of Pharaoh Ramesses II, a poignant reminder of the ancient ties of Canopus to Egypt’s most powerful dynasties. Also included was a granite statue of an unidentified figure from late Ptolemaic times, broken at the knees and neck, and a white marble statue of a Roman nobleman, a reminder of the cosmopolitan nature of the city.

Minister Sherif Fathy praised the collaboration between archaeologists, Egypt’s naval forces, and the Armed Forces, highlighting that “the state’s commitment to safeguarding heritage is the key to keeping Egypt’s civilizational idenтιтy and unique human legacy.”

Divers helped recover the statues, which were then lifted ashore by cranes. Courtesy of Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The city of Canopus, situated on the western branch of the Nile Delta, was a thriving commercial and religious town long before Alexandria was founded in the 4th century BCE. Pilgrims visited its Osiris and Serapis temples to witness the Mysteries of Osiris, a festival reenacting the death and resurrection of the god. Over centuries, however, earthquakes, shifting geology, and rising sea levels swallowed the city. Today, much of Canopus lies beneath the waters of Abu Qir Bay, with parts of it covered by the modern town.

Major General Ahmed Khaled Hᴀssan Said highlighted the discovery’s broader meaning for Alexandria. “This is not merely about finding rare artifacts, but about reviving a genuine part of Egypt’s great history and adding valuable new chapters to the country’s civilizational record,” he said.

The Abu Qir Bay excavations have been ongoing for decades, the most prominent of which were undertaken by French archaeologist Franck Goddio and his team in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Their past work unearthed temples, harbors, and colossal statues.

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General, noted that this new discovery is the first of its type since Egypt ratified UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage in 2001. Dr. Khaled described Abu Qir as “a living witness to the greatness of Egypt’s history and civilization,” confirming that further excavation is underway. One of the major future announcements, Khaled said, will concern a shipwreck loaded with goods that shed light on Mediterranean trade in ancient times.

Surveys of the site reveal the remains of a complete Roman-era city, including temples, cisterns, quays, fish tanks, and even an ancient 125-meter-long harbor. Among the finds are amphorae stamped with seals as well as coins of different eras—Egyptian, Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic—indicating centuries of cultural continuity.

Whereas most of the artifacts are left underwater to conserve them, Egypt plans to continue developing Abu Qir Bay into a research and heritage tourism site.

More information: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities