When was heracleion discovered

Those working on it today are well aware of its holes. At the end of the century, probably after a severe flood, the central island — already sagging under the weight of the main temple buildings — succumbed to liquefaction. In what must have been a terrifying experience, the hard clay soil turned to liquid in moments and the buildings atop it collapsed swiftly into the water.

The supply of pottery and coins into Thonis-Heracleion appears to have ended at this point; a few hardy residents clung on to their homes throughout the Roman period and even into the beginning of Arab rule, but the last vestiges of the city sunk below the sea at the end of the eighth century.

At a time of looming ecological catastrophe, it is perhaps unsurprising that we should find the tale of Thonis-Heracleion so fascinating. The struggle continues to ensure he and his city are not also a vision of our future. F ollow Guardian Cities on Twitter and Facebook to join in the discussion.

Lost cities 6: how Thonis-Heracleion resurfaced after 1, years under water. Drowned worlds: Egypt's lost cities. Read more. Lost cities 7: how Nasa technology uncovered the 'megacity' of Angkor. One particular stele recorded ships that came into port and the taxes and duties they owed and paid. Canals were built into the city, making it almost Venice-like, and residences were built on areas away from the center of town as if they were in a suburb.

Surprisingly, many of the objects found were of Greek origin with Egyptian names and vice-versa, showing how closely the two counties traded together. Even an age-old mystery concerning the cities of Thonis and Heracleion was solved when Goddio realized from the hieroglyphics that Thonis was the Egyptian name and Heracleion was the Greek name for the same city. The ancient city was one of the most important ports in Egypt until Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in BC and went on to found Alexandria about twenty miles away, which became the largest and most prosperous city at the time.

With its world famous library, it was considered an important center of learning attracting such scholars as Archimedes, Euclid, and Hero according to Ancient History Encyclopedia.

Now, many of its incalculable treasures have been brought up from the watery depths to which they were banished and have been shown around the world, allowing us to get a glimpse into the Ancient Greek and Egyptian world. Heracleion, better known by its original and Egyptian name Thonis, and sometimes called Thonis-Heracleion, was an ancient Egyptian port city located 32 km 20 miles northeast of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea.

Its remains are located in Abu Qir Bay, currently 2. A stele found on the site indicates that it was one single city known by both its Egyptian and Greek names. Thonis was originally built on some adjoining islands in the Nile Delta.

It was intersected by canals with a number of separate harbors and anchorages. Its wharves, fantastic temples and tower-houses were linked by ferries, bridges, and pontoons. Thonis had a large temple of Khonsou, son of Amun, who was known to the Greeks as Herakles, or Hercules. By: James MacDonald. August 16, March 10, Share Tweet Email Print. The head of a colossal red granite statue of a pharaoh is raised to the surface.

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