CAIRO: Immersed in the choppy waters of the Mediterranean lurk treasures from the era of Anthony and Cleopatra.Until today, only few adventurous divers and the fish could enjoy the colossal statues and the sphinxes. Finally, the treasures have resurfaced.
Earlier this week, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosny announced that the riches will be on display at the new open-air museum at Kom El Dikka in Alexandria at the beginning of the new year. The museum is part a joint project by the Ministry of Culture and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) to renovate the historical site.
Located on the grounds of the Roman Amphitheatre, the museum will show 39 stone items, the most important of which is an obelisk from the era of Seti I who ruled in the 19th Dynasty. Other artifacts on display are a 2.5-meter statue of a woman, a group of small Sphinxes and stone friezes with hieroglyphic carvings.
The items were pulled out of the sea in 1999 off the eastern seaport of Qait Bey. The area, which scientists believe suffered and earthquake in the 6th century that submerged parts of the city as well as three neighboring cities, is thought to be a treasure trove of Greek and Roman artifacts as well.
Mohammad Abdul-Maqsud, head of the Northern Egypt Monument Department at the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) said in earlier statements that the SCA pays special attention to the sunken antiquities in the Egyptian coastal governorates. There are considered to be 9 sites for sunken antiquities around the port city of Alexandria, including Qait Bey castle, the eastern port, Al Silsela, Al Shatbi, Al Ebrahimia, Sporting, Al Ma amura, Abu Qir Bay, Nelson s Island in Abu Qir Bay. Agencies
