Archaeologists in Egypt recently retrieved statues, tools, and a sphinx from the submerged celebratory city of Canopus, an ancient party town.
In a remarkable milestone for Egypt's cultural heritage preservation, a team of divers and archaeologists led by Franck Goddio has unearthed a collection of artifacts from a sunken city believed to be part of ancient Canopus. The discovery, made in August 2025, sheds new light on a city that flourished more than 2,000 years ago before vanishing beneath the waves.
Located just off the coast of Alexandria, Canopus was one of Egypt's most important cities during the Ptolemaic period (305 to 30 B.C.E.). Known for its temple to Serapis, a Greco-Egyptian deity, Canopus was a pilgrimage site famous for all sorts of licentious behavior before it sank beneath the Bay of Abū Qīr in the eighth century C.E.
The operation yielded monumental statues, architectural remains, and other relics dating back to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Among the newly recovered statues are a quartzite sphinx bearing carved tablets of Ramesses II, a granite colossus of an unidentified figure, and a white marble statue of a Roman nobleman.
Archaeologists can study stylistic details that reveal the fusion of Hellenistic and Egyptian artistry from the era. Additionally, some pieces bear inscriptions that may help clarify the names of donors or their specific functions in temple rituals. Bronze objects, ritual items, and fragments of temple columns were also unearthed.
The underwater excavations at Canopus are challenging due to murky waters and reduced visibility. However, advanced sonar and magnetometers are used to map submerged ruins, making the task less daunting.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is promoting underwater archaeology to expand tourism beyond land-based monuments. The discovery of Canopus and its sister city, Thonis-Heracleion, is contributing to a broader understanding of how coastal cities in antiquity functioned as cultural crossroads.
The recovery of these new statues likely indicates that they were placed within the temple precincts as part of ceremonial installations. The discovery is a testament to the rich history and cultural significance of ancient Egypt, and it promises to reveal even more secrets as research continues.
