Sunken ancient Egyptian temple and shrine discovered filled with ‘treasures and secrets’

Archaeologists have discovered treasure inside a sunken underwater temple and sanctuary in Egypt.

While exploring a canal off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, underwater archaeologists discovered a sunken temple and sanctuary filled with ancient treasures related to the god Amun and the goddess Aphrodite.

The temple, which partially collapsed “in a cataclysm” in the mid-2nd century BC, was originally built to worship the god Amun; According to a press release from the European Institute of Underwater Archeology (IEASM), it is significant that the pharaohs came to the temple “to receive from the supreme god of the ancient Egyptian pantheon their title of power with as global kings”.

The now abandoned building was once part of the ancient port city of Thonis-Heracleion in Aboukir Bay (also known as Abū Qīr Bay). The ancient city, now underwater and located about 7 km off the coast of modern-day Egypt, was destroyed when a massive earthquake and tidal wave caused the soil to liquefy and sink into the Nile Delta.

While exploring the temple, archaeologists discovered a number of “treasures and secrets,” including silver ceremonial tools, gold jewelry, and alabaster vessels once used to containing perfume or ointment is called ointment.

At the same site, divers found underground structures supported by “well-preserved wooden columns and beams” dating from the 5th century BC.C., they wrote in the press release. Franck Goddio, IEASM president and French underwater archaeologist who led the excavation, said: “It was extremely moving to discover such fragile objects, still intact despite the violence and scale of the cataclysm.”

To the east of the temple, archaeologists discovered a Greek temple dedicated to the goddess of love Aphrodite. It also contains many artifacts, including imported bronze and ceramic objects.

“This proves that the Greeks were allowed to trade and settle in the city during the time of the pharaohs of the Saite dynasty [between 688 and 525 BC] there were holy places for them their own gods,” the archaeologists write in the book declare.

Researchers say the temple also contained a cache of Greek weapons, which could indicate that Greek mercenaries were once present in the area to “protect access to the Kingdom” at the branch gate the westernmost tip of the Nile, or Canopus, the researchers said in the statement.

Researcherssaythetemple also contained a cache of Greek weapons, which could indicate that Greek mercenaries were oncepresent in the areato”protect access to the Kingdom” at the branchgatethewesternmosttip of the Nile, or Canopus, the researchers said in the statement.