Alexandria’s new National Museum in Egypt is newly opened - Part 2 of 2

Photo. Divers of Franck Goddio's team marvel at the Stele of Heracleion, granite 1,95m, at its original site of sunken Heracleion.

Copyright: Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation - Photographer: Christoph Gerigk (salaction). www.underwaterdiscovery.org

There are still amazing archaeological discoveries to be made, not only in the remains of known antique towns, but also in our own backyard or even in the depth of the oceans.

Franck Goddio's European Institute of Underwater Archaeology has really proven that! The newly opened National Museum of Alexandria in Egypt features the most impressive historic artefacts from Egypt and Alexandria, including some of the dramatic finds from the research excavations of underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio. A separate section in the Greco-Roman part of the museum vividly illustrates the under-water environment in which these artefacts were discovered.

The Heracleion Stele
This fully intact, 1,95m black granite stela, covered with delicate hieroglyphic inscriptions, was found at the site of Heracleion, the legendary lost city. Erected by Pharaoh Nektanebo I (378-362 BC), the stele orders a levy of 10 percent on Greek handicrafts and goods for the benefit of the temple to the Goddess Neith, and for the stela to be set up in the town Honë, the Egyptian name for Heracleion-Thonis. The stele is practically identical to the famous Stela of Naukratis (Cairo Museum), discovered in 1899. The exhibited Stele of Heracleion is proof that Heracleion and Thonis are in fact the same city.

The city of Heracleion

The city of Heracleion was definitely lost by the end of the 8th century. Truth and legend lie very close together in the antique sources about its existence. When writing of the exploits Heracles, the Greek historian Diodorus mentions Heracleion: once the waters of the Nile swelled into such a vast flood that the dykes broke. Heracles quickly stopped up the gap and guided the river back into its bed. In gratitude the local people built him a temple and called the town Heracleion.

The excavations have shown that the city possessed a grand temple dedicated to the Egyptian God Amon and his son Khonsou, Zeus and Heracles respectively. In order to secure the dynastic continuity, the temple had a vital importance for the Ptolemaic rulers, who considered themselves descendants of Amon/Zeus through Heracles: it guaranteed their legitimacy. Heracleion was not only a flourishing port, but also the gateway to Egypt, long before Alexandria was founded.(salaction).

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The famous Stele of Heracleion granite 1,95m, in the fascinating environment of the newly opened National Museum of Alexandria. The stele had been ordered by Pharaoh Nectanebo I (378-362 BC) and is almost identical to the Stele of Naukratis in the Museum of Cairo.
Copyright: Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation - Photographer: Christoph Gerigk. www.underwaterdiscovery.org

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The Statue of a Ptolemaic Queen dessed as Isis.
The granite statue shows a Ptolemaic Queen dressed as the Goddess Isis (2,2m total). She had been found broken on the site of Heracleion, however, the parts fit seamlessly together. The Egyptian style dress tied with a knot in the middle of the chest is a characteristic of the Goddess Isis. The eye sockets were once supposed to be filled with white and black stones to enliven her expression.

Isis is one of the oldest Goddesses, known ever since ancient Egyptian times. Being one of the most popular Goddesses in Egypt, the cult spread with the Roman legions through the Mediterranean. Isis, the Goddess of nurturing love and magic, is daughter of Geb, the Earth, and Nout, the Sky, and sister-wife to Osiris. When their brother Seth killed Isis' beloved husband Osiris, Isis moved all forces of nature and rescued the body. After Seth had then cut Osiris' body into pieces, Isis searched all of Egypt to gather them - the last piece being in Canopus.

With magical skills she grew wings that breezed the breath of life into the dead Osiris and they conceived a son: Horus, the falcon God. Osiris then descended to rule over the underworld. The canopic region, where this statue of Isis was found, was famous for its numerous temples dedicated to the gods Serapis, Isis, and Osiris. Throughout the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, important religious ceremonies commemorated the death and resurrection of Osiris. Those took place after the flooding of the Nile, when the earth was reborn with the withdrawal of the waters commemorating the mysteries of Osiris.

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Statue of a Ptolemaic: Queen dessed as the Goddess Isis exhibited in the National Museum Alexandria, Egypt, in front of a photo showing how she was found at the site of Heracleion. The statue of granite measures 2,20m.
Copyright: Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation - Photographer: Christoph Gerigk. www.underwaterdiscovery.org

Statue of a Ptolemaic Queen dessed as the Goddess Isis on the sea bead at its original location of the sunken city of Heracleion. The statue of granite was found broken in parts that fit, however, seamlessly onto each other.
Copyright: Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation - Photographer: Christoph Gerigk. www.underwaterdiscovery.org

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Osiris Priest holding a Canopic jar

The 1,70m granite statue of the Osiris priest holding a canopic jar was found at the south-western branch of Antirhodos island in Alexandria's Eastern Harbour. The statue is broken off below knee  level and represents a priest, probably during an Isiac ritual. He is wrapped in an ample cloak, carefully holding against his cheek a vase topped with the effigy of a human head. Traces of the features, the pastiche beard, and the names identify the object as Osiris-Canopus.

Ancient texts describe the Isiac ritual procession in detail, during which a priest carries a "sacred jar". A perfect illustration of the ritual of the priest carrying an image of Osiris-Canopus can be seen on relievos on the columns of the Iseum Campense in Rome. The discovery of this statue might indicate the presence of cult buildings within the complex of royal palaces on Antirhodos island.

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The granite priest of Osiris holding a canopic jar (1,70m) with two sphinxes displayed at the National Museum of Alexandria. The photos in the background show the excavation work on the site of Alexandria's Eastern Harbor. 

Copyright:Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation - Photographer: Christoph Gerigk. www.underwaterdiscovery.org

A diver is looking at the granite statue of the priest of Osiris holding a canopic jar (1,70m) at his original location on sunken Antirhodos Island in Alexandria's Eastern Harbor. The presence of the two sphinxes point to the existence of a ritual site.

Copyright:Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation - Photographer: Christoph Gerigk. www.underwaterdiscovery.org

All missions are performed in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt, and are made possible by the Hilti Foundation.

Additional information
The European Institute of Underwater Archaeology was created in 1987 by Franck Goddio. This French non-profit organization calls upon specialist in archaeology, history, geophysics and technological development to support research missions. Below you find the address to the official web site of Franck Goddio! Here you can read about the discovery of lost cities, submerged lands and ancient ships. Click on the link for more information www.underwaterdiscovery.org.

Franck Goddio Society:
The Franck Goddio Society, a charitable U.S. organization, is the educational arm of Franck Goddio's archaeological underwater explorations. The Society conducts scientific activities in relation to archaeological projects and informs and involves the general public through television programming, the World Wide Web, books, CD-Roms and other media.