Abu Keir Bay reveals its archaeological secrets
Egypt, History, 7/12/2001

The French President Chirac was so glad to know of the latest archaeological findings of the joint Egyptian French expedition working in Abu Keir Bay in Alexandria.

Abu Keir Bay has proved to be Egypt's golden gate to rare archaeological findings.

The first to explore the archaeological treasures of the bay was Prince Omar Towson of the former Egyptian royal family. Prince Rene of Monaco, Prince Frederic of Denmark and Princess Helena of Spain and her spouse followed suit.

As a matter of fact, Abu Keir Bay has a whole ancient city under its waters dating back to three thousand years B.C.

The recent archaeological findings have proved that the ancient city of Heraclium is located 6 KM away from Abu Keir Bay. It's area is 1000 m X 800 m.

Of the most important of these findings is a black granite stele whose height is1195 cm. It is a rare replica of the famous Nakratis stele, which was found in 1899 in Nakratis in the north of the Delta.

The stele has the first decree issued by King Naktanibu I (278-262 BC) in which he assigned tenth of the customs imposed on the Greek merchants to the temple of goddess Nebit.

Other findings include three rosy granite huge statutes representing unknown king and queen, and the Nile god Haby. A stone praying niche was also salvaged dedicated to the god Amoun-Gibb who is considered the father of the Pharaoh. Thus, the Pharaoh can be said to be of divine origin.

Gaballah Ali Gaballah, secretary-general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, explains that the city is called Heraclium after the Greek god Hercules.

Frank Jodie, chief of the expedition, asserted that they have also found a large amount of gold coins, ornaments and bronze vessels dating back to the first century BC.

To give full support to these efforts, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture has founded a department for sinking monuments in 1996 to supervise all salvaging efforts in Alexandria and all the costs of Egypt.

The Egyptian coasts are full of sinking monuments, which are in bad need of salvaging to be put on display after restoration. All these monuments prove that Egypt is still full of ancient wonders for the whole world, an Egyptian report said.

Previous Stories:
  Sinai goes to Greece   (7/7/2001)
  Temple, tomb unearthed in Beheira   (7/7/2001)
  Roman housing compound unearthed in Ismailia   (7/5/2001)

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