The Lost City of Heracleion

Heracleion city is the most recognized ancient Egyptian city and was regarded to be one of the most significant ports in the Mediterranean coast. It was however sunk into the ocean thus going unnoticed until it was re-discovered by scientists. It was a place where many significant archeological treasures were discovered. It is in this article that we are going to be taught the significance of the lost city of Heracleion.

The city of Heracleion is part of the lost city situated close to the coastline of Alexandria in Abu Qir Bay. Not only was it a principal commercial center on the Mediterranean coast, but also the principal port of Egypt. With the time, the city submerged into the water until it was discovered by some scientists.

The remarkable location made the city of Heracleion to be constructed as a major business and religious hub in the area of Alexandria. It was the most suitable location to obtain the ships that were sailing in Greece and other nations adjacent to the Mediterranean. It was also the entrance that accepted merchandise of the entire globe. Heracleion was a significant city in terms of religion since the city had numerous temples of the god Amun among the Egyptians.

In the sunken city that had been discovered underwater by scientists, it was discovered that there were several artifacts, statues, rare coins, some ships and boats, numerous pieces of pottery, and certain unique antiquities that confirm the significance and historical worth of the city.

The sinking of the city of Heracleion has a number of reasons that contributed to its demise. Of the most significant ones, there are the following:

• The site on which the city was constructed was clay soil and completely covered with silt and the city slowly sunk into the ground.
• The increase of the level of the Mediterranean Sea that led to the total submergence of the city by the sea water.
• Extreme earthquakes that had cracks in the ground and the whole city collapsed.
• The Nile overflooded on many occasions, thus making the foundation weak and gradually wearing out soil till it sank.
• The majority of the most significant archaeological finds are in Heracleion.

The lost city of Heracleion has a lot of archaeological findings. Among the most prominent are:

• Big statues of the god Isis and the god Amun according to the faith of the ancient Egyptians. The statues were left in their form even after a long period since the city sunk.
• These were sunken temples of Egyptian gods that were discovered to have decorated and inscribed columns.
• Some of the merchant ships were also discovered sunk in the seaway and this proves that the city was a major trade and seaport in Egypt.
• A lot of precious jewels and gold were discovered, and this is the reasoning behind the affluence of the city in the time before it was covered with the waters.
• Numerous stone slabs with hieroglyphic writings were discovered and they indicate the historical significance of the city.

When the scientists choose to find the lost city of Heracleion, they found numerous Pharaonic temples, and the most significant was the one of the god Amun that is one of the most significant Egyptian temples to the ancient Egyptians. These temples contained many rare statues, giant columns. Despite the fact that the city of Heracleion has been underwater and has stayed under the water for several years, it has not lost its beauty.

Heracleion city has been significant in triggering business flow in Egypt. Its role is as follows:

• Its unique status as a place of significant business location gave it one of the most significant places of transporting goods.
• It would get numerous ships with goods coming out of Greece and other cities loaded.
• It held a crossroad of Egyptian and Greek traders thus being involved in commercial and cultural exchange.

In the year 2000, a French archaeologist by name Franck Goddio made a decision of discovering the city of Heracleion himself when the city of Heracleion had sunk thousands of years ago. He and his crew actually commenced to utilize the most modern sophisticated equipment to pinpoint the city. 

The initial impression of the city was a huge statue composed of black granites and certain stone columns with Pharaonic inscriptions. Then they discover that the city was buried in the sand and excavation process commenced where temples, ships and statues were located.

The value of the lost city of Heracleion is as follows:

• Having the idea of a point in the life of the ancient Egyptians by analyzing the artifacts that were in the city and the nature of the life in the cities of the coast.
• The finding of the Greek and Egyptian artifacts in the city which proves that the city was a crossroads of the various civilizations.
• The fact that the city of Heracleion was a major trading hub and this made the scientists learn how trade was transferred in the ancient periods.
• The demonstration of the religious role in ancient Egypt, and such role manifested itself in its relationship with the life of the Egyptians in commercial ports.

Is the lost city of Heracleion real?

The mythical city of Heracleion is real. It lies under the sea and its discovery by scientists happened in the year 2000 in the Abu Qir Bay in Alexandria.

Why did Thonis-Heracleion sink?

Heracleion city was sunk by numerous natural causes including earthquakes and the increase in the sea level as well as the fact that the city was built on clay soil and gradually the city submerged under the sea.

Where is the lost city in Egypt?

Heracleion is the lost city which is found in the Alexandria Governorate in Egypt, on the Abu Qir Bay. It was among the most significant Egyptian cities.