Monday, 25 May 2026
Ancient harbor unveiled beneath Alexandria’s waves
A mystery that dates back more than two millennia is starting to come to light beneath the azure waves of the Mediterranean just west of the storied city of Alexandria.
An international team of archaeologists has uncovered compelling evidence for a long-lost submerged harbor, that once connected the ancient Temple of Taposiris Magna directly to the sea.
The project is led by Kathleen Martinez from the Dominican Republic’s Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña, working closely with legendary ocean explorer Robert Ballard, whose name has become synonymous with undersea discovery.
Their collaboration with Larry Mayer of the University of New Hampshire, the Egyptian Navy’s Hydrographic Department, and Supreme Council of Antiquities has turned the tides of our understanding of ancient Egypt’s coastline.
While mapping and surveying the seabed, the team discovered the remains of a protective inner harbour, once shielded by natural coral reefs. Divers recovered stone and metal anchors in a variety of shapes, silent witnesses to ships that once braved these waters, and hundreds of amphorae, the unmistakable signature of Ptolemaic-era trade.
The team unveiled that, in antiquity, the coastline lay nearly four kilometers farther inland than it does today, a powerful reminder of the dynamism of the land and sea.
Their survey also revealed the tantalising trace of a tunnel, an ancient passageway that once linked the heart of Taposiris Magna’s sacred precinct with the open sea, reaching as far as the modern area of “Salam 5”. Here, divers were greeted by further archaeological finds, cementing the harbour’s critical role in ancient maritime activity.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, underscored the significance of the find saying that “it illustrates not just Egypt’s enduring history, but its pivotal cultural and economic influence across the ancient world. Our coastlines were vibrant centres of exchange, a legacy we celebrate and continue to explore.”
In 2023, the same team uncovered foundation deposits filled with funerary and ritual treasures: coins bearing the iconic profile of Queen Cleopatra VII, a bronze figurine, an inscribed scarab amulet declaring “The justice of Ra has shone,” and a bronze ring dedicated to the goddess Hathor.
