Heracleion

Welcome to the site of one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of the 21st century: the sunken city of Heracleion, also known by its Egyptian name, Thonis. For over a thousand years, this legendary city was…

At the heart of sunken Heracleion lies the ruins of the Great Temple of Amun-Gereb, the city's religious center. This massive structure was dedicated to Amun, the king of the gods, and his son Khonsu. …

One of the most significant finds at the site was a massive, intact black granite stele, found standing exactly where it had been placed in the 4th century BCE. This document, known as the Stele of Thonis-Heracleion, is an…

Beneath the silt of Abu Qir Bay, Goddio's team discovered something unprecedented in Mediterranean archaeology: over 60 ancient shipwrecks in a single location. This 'graveyard of ships' dates from the 6th to the 2nd century BCE…

Among the most visually stunning discoveries at Heracleion are the fragments of colossal statues representing the Ptolemaic rulers. These include a magnificent statue of a Ptolemaic queen, likely Arsinoe II, depicted as the…

While the colossal statues grab the headlines, the smaller finds at Heracleion provide a more intimate look at daily life. Archaeologists have recovered thousands of items: gold jewelry, bronze mirrors, cosmetic jars, and…

Our final section explores the dramatic and tragic end of Heracleion. For centuries, the cause of its disappearance was a mystery, but geological analysis of the seabed has provided the answer. …

As we conclude our 'submerged' tour of Thonis-Heracleion, we reflect on the incredible journey of this city from myth to reality. For over a thousand years, it was lost to human memory, a hidden treasure at the bottom of the…