Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Underwater treasures

PHARAOH'S HEAD: Egypt's sunken treasures. PHOTO: AP

Alexandria was renowned through the ancient world until it disappeared into the Mediterranean Sea. Legends of the Alexandrian treasures have brought hunters and researchers flocking to the Egyptian coast searching for some remains of the fabled port. Now "Egypt's Sunken Treasures", an exhibition at the Grand Palais, Paris, showcases 500 artefacts recovered by the archaeologists. Among these are colossuses of pink granite, a 17.6-tonne stone inscribed with hieroglyphics, crouching sphinx, pottery, amulets, gold coins and jewellery — some of these are believed to have spent about 2,000 years submerged in the sea. The expedition, organised by the European Institute of Submarine Archaeology and led by archaeologist Franck Goddio, used sonar depth finder and sounding equipment to locate the objects.

COMPILED BY R. KRITHIKA

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail