Divers are forcing history books to be rewritten as a result of their recent finds off the coast of Egypt; approximately 1200 years after being consumed by the ocean, the ancient city of Heracleion has been discovered off the bay of Aboukir. Remarkably, this city thrived during the 6th century B.C., when 15-foot tall statues of gods and goddesses carved out of red granite lined streets and buildings. If it doesn’t go without saying that museums across the planet are all anxious to obtain even a single piece of their own to display—then let it be said that they are! Checkout the images below in order to obtain a glimpse of your own.

 

Diver Franck Goddio scrutinizes a massive hand-carved statue of a pharaoh. The statue is about 16 feet tall, and it was discovered near a large temple underwater.

 

This is the head of a statue carved out of red granite, which features the god Hapi (the Nile-flooding god). Hapi also represents abundance and fertility, and these types of large statues are extremely rare.

 

Divers and researchers lift the statue above the waves, for transport to a museum.

 

The pharaoh, the queen and the god Hapi are placed next to a temple stele which dates back to the 2nd century B.C. Unfortunately, it was discovered in 17 different pieces.

 

A gold plaque was uncovered in the southern part of the city, written in Greek, and originally intended to represent a signature for foundation deposits in the name of King Ptolemy III (246-222 B.C.).

 

This is a reflected image of a bronze statue of the god Osiris; the crown is an insignia of power, and these eyes are decorated with gold sheets.

 

Aboukir Bay’s meticulous documentation: a diver scrutinizes a red granite statue underwater.

 

This bronze oil lamp dates back to the 2nd century B.C.

Diver Franck Goddio displays an inscribed stele which was ordered by Nectanebo between 378 and 362 B.C. 

 

This stele has been underwater for over 1200 years.

 

Gold fragments which date back to the 6th century B.C.

A shallow gold saucer which was utilized for drinking and serving.

 

A Ptolemaic queen (perhaps Cleopatra II or Cleopatra III) dressed as the goddess Isis.

 

4-ton red granite statue discovered near the temple of Heracleion.

 

Graeco-Egyptian statue of a queen.

 

The head of a pharaoh statue: over 5 meters, carved out of red granite.

 

Bronze figure of the pharaoh of the 26th dynasty found at a temple in Heracleion.

As can be seen, these discoveries are genuinely ground-breaking—these high degrees of ancient history and preservation are rarely synonymous with each other, and it is even more astounding (and outstanding!) when they are actually discovered with each other.

 

 

Source: Slip Talk.