Presentation by

Ulrike Koschtial, UNESCO

Focal Point 2001 Convention on
the Protection of the Underwater
Cultural Heritage

Alaa El-Din Mahrous

Director of Underwater
Archaeology Department,
Alexandria, Egypt

Project of the
Construction of an
Underwater Museum in
Alexandria, Egypt

The historic
background

Mention of the port of the Pharos Island by

Homer
City founded by Alexander the Great in 331BC
Place of the lighthouse, the palace of Ptolemy
and Cleopatra
Close-by sunken cities of Abukir Bay
(Canopus, Herakleion, Menouthis) and site of
several battles of Napoleonic times
Large amount of underwater cultural heritage
(2,5 hectars in Alexandria Bay)

The submersion

Subsidence most probably

occurred at two moments:
tsunami of 21 July, 365AD,
around the 8th century

Also earthquakes in 955, 10th and

14th century (which destroyed
among others the Pharos)

History of discovery

First discoveries, mainly in the Western Port,

by Gaston Jondet in 1911 to 1915
Recovery of objects from the Eastern Harbour
after discoveries by Kamel Abdul-Saadat in
1962
First scientific mission, organized by UNESCO
(Honor Frost and Vladimir Nesteroff) in 1968
topography and discovery of artefacts
Archaeological excavations of Pharos and
Ptolemy palace since 1990ies (Empereur,
Goddio)

Lay-out of the submerged royal quarters

of Alexandria in the Eastern Port

Artist's view of the ancient

Portus Magnus of Alexandria

Discoveries by JeanYves Empereur

Topography of Pharos site

monumental doorway in Doric style (Pharos?)
3,000 blocks from Pharos
two monolithic tabernacles
an obelisk of Seti I
a large vasque
a sarcophagus bathtub
two papyriform columns of the 19th dynasty
a Roman era honorific column, numerous sphinxes
9 colossal statues

Discoveries by Franck
Goddio:

Topography of 'Magnus Portus' , Cape Lochias

(kings' palaces and royal port), the peninsula,
Poseidon temple and Mark Anthonys
Timonium

Excavations at Antirhodos island (Royal House

and sanctuary of Isis), finds included

statues of Priest of Isis, the god Agathodaimon, a

Ptolemy king as Hermes, the heads of Antonia Minor
and Augustus, and god Thot-Hermes as an ibis
two sphinxes
pavement, timber, columns
a shipwreck
Many other artefacts

The project for an

underwater museum

1997 international meeting and

1998 scientific mission sponsored
by UNESCO and Egyptian
authorities proposal for
underwater museum
2006 International workshop
recommends construction of
museum including underwater parts

The different players

Egyptian Authorities main contractor

and overview
Jacques Rougerie Leading architect of
the team undertaking the feasibility
study
UNESCO establishes International
Scientific Advisory Committee (incl.
archaeologists Empereur and Goddio)
Frank Goddio and Hilti Foundation
financing of feasibility study from
benefits of Alexandria exposition

Current status

January 2009: start of the

feasibility study
Spring 2009: First session of the
international UNESCO Committee
January 2010: Finalization of
Feasibility Study

Problems

Strong pollution in Bay

Need for integration of the project
into the development of the whole
of Alexandria
Issue of Integrity of Site
Problem of Financing
Problems of soil stability, earthquake
security, uplift of water, security etc.

Description by
Rougerie Architecte:
Contracting
authority : Egyptian
Government
Depth: 7 meters
Diameter: 40meters
Area: 22 000 m
Capacity : 3 millions
of visitors per year
An underwater
voyage to the sunken
cities of Alexandria.
From the lagoon, 3
celestial harps should
rise up. An
underwater tunnel
will lead to a land
stela where the
monumental statues

Thank you