Thonis or Heracleion *** Lost City of Egypt Found *** For centuries it was thought to be a legend, a city of extraordinary wealth referenced by Homer, visited by Helen of Troy and Paris, her lover, but apparently lost under the sea. In fact, Heracleion was real, and a decade after divers began uncovering its treasures, archaeologists have produced a picture of what life was like in the city in the age of the pharaohs. The city, also called Thonis, disappeared beneath the Mediterranean about 2,000 years ago and was found during a survey of the Egyptian shore in 2001. Now its life at the heart of trade routes in classical times is becoming clear; researchers believe it was the customs hub through which all goods from Greece and the rest of the region entered Egypt. They have discovered the remains of more than 64 ships buried in the thick clay and sand that covers the sea bed — the greatest number of ancient ships to be found in one place — and more than 700 anchors. Gold coins and weights made from bronze and stone also hint at the trade conducted there.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:14:59 +0000
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