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A joint Egyptian-French archeological
mission discovered a city dating back
to the Hellenic era (300 BC) on the Mediterranean
seabed, not far from Alexandria.
This old city lies to the eastern side
of Ras Zefroun (Zefroun Promontory) four
kilometres off Abu Queer Coast.
According to historians, this city had
originally housed two suburbs namely;
Menotous and Heraclume.
The first suburb (Menotous) was the worshipping
site of the highly revered godess Isis,
whereas the god Hercules was worshipped
in Heraclume.
The
last two years of excavations have led
to the discovery and salvage of five carved
statues, representing the heads of a number
of kings, and Hellenic and Roman officials,
in addition to gold coins, jewellery and
four columns, each four metres high.
Among their archeological findings, were
also three parts of a rare holy altar
called Nawos, the seat and foundation
of the god's statue inside the temple.
The
engravings and inscriptions on the artefacts
are related to astronomy, thus consolidating
the theory that the Ancient Egyptians
were the first to learn about astrology.
Moreover, the mission found ruins of buildings,
which may have formed parts of temples
or palaces and some temple columns in
addition to incomplete parts of sphinx
statues.
Hundreds of archeological pieces are still
believed to be under water. Foremost among
them are stony masses with Hieroglyphic
inscriptions dating back to the 26th and
30th dynasties.
A number of golden coins dating back to
Byzantine and Islamic eras were also found.
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