While the Lost Town of Atlantis may never be found – or maybe much more likely, never existed to begin with, there are more lost submerged cities. Ancient Egypt's Lost City of Heracleion (also known as Thonis) is perhaps the greatest submerged city ever discovered and we're only beginning to find out more about it.
Excavations are continuing and each year there are more and more discoveries being made of this ancient city that were lost underneath the waves for over one thousand years. Prior to being barely greater than a legend that only appeared in a few rare ancient texts that most historians didn't bother much with.
The Once Great Port Town of Heracleion/Thonis
Of course, the town wasn't originally built underwater. In ancient times it was built on some adjoining islands within the Nile Delta. There were numerous harbors and was interested by canals. Its wharves, temples, and tower-houses were linked by ferries, bridges, and pontoons. It was among the trading ports of Ancient Egypt – and even the main trading port by the Late Duration of Egypt.
- Port: At One Time It Was The Main Port Town of Egypt
- Age: Perhaps As Old Because the 12th Century BC
The city was the stuff of legends and few ever thought it truly existed. The legendary beginnings of Heracleion (or Thonis) go back as far as the 12th century BC.
It was mentioned by some of the ancient greek language historians including Herodotus, Strabo, and Diodorus. Herodotus even claims that the city was visited by Paris and Helen of Troy before the outbreak from the Trojan war (they sought refuge there but were averted through the city). The site of Troy has been discovered and excavated in Turkey and something can click on today.
- Mentioned: By Herodotus, Strabo, and Diodorus
The city seemed to be home to temples, including the large temple of Khonsou the son of Amun (although later on, the worship of Amun be important). There is even the significant temple of Amun-Gereb in the center of the town.
- Heyday: Between your 6th and 4th Centuries BC
Over time the newly founded city of Alexandria superseded Thonis because the main Egyptian port within the second century BC.
Heraclaion/Thonis Lost Beneath The Waves
Over time the central island up with the town succumbed to soil liquefaction. It absolutely was weakened with a combination of earthquakes, tsunamis, and rising sea levels. What had been hard clay, become liquid and also the building built onto it collapsed into the water.
- Succumbed: To Soil Liquefaction
- Date Sank: Sank From The End of 2nd Century BC Towards the 8th Century AD
This didn't happen overnight by likely started at the end of the 2nd century BC with only a few residents still calling it home by Roman times. When from the arrival from the Arabs after the 8th century AD, it had completely disappeared beneath the waves.
This inundated ancient city now rests 2.5 kilometers ro 1.6 miles off the coast and under 30 feet or 9.1 meters of water. It's an easy 32 km or 20 miles in the large Egyptian town of Alexandria.
- Distance: 2.5 km or 1.6 miles From the Coast
- Depth: 30 feet or 9.1 Meters Water
Discovery & Excavation
The ruins of the city were first discovered in 1933 as Royal Air Force commander saw the ruins while flying within the bay. That that time most historians thought that Thonis and Heracleion were different cities on the Egyptian mainland.
- Spotted: In 1933 By The Royal Air Force
- First Excavation: In 1999
Exploration of the ruins began in 1999 by the French archeologist Franck Goddio. Numerous finds from the city's ancient history were uncovered – including those of statues of the god Serapis and the queen Arsione II.
- Fun Fact: Queen Arisone II Had become the Ptolemaic “King of Upper and Lower Egypt”
A stele recovered from the site implies that it had been known by both its Greek and Egyptian names. Heracleion was an old Egyptian port city located near the Canopic Mouth of the Nile River on the Mediterranean and beyond.
In the final couple of years more temples, wicker baskets with palm tree fruits, statuettes from the god Osiris, wooden sofas, gold amulets, a Ptolemaic galley ship, along with other finds have been discovered and excavations from the underwater site are continuing today.
There remains most of the city to become explored, this year a type of ancient Nile riverboat is discovered, in 2022 a small Greek temple was found along with treasure ships and bronze coins from the reign of Ptolemy II.
