⛵ Ancient Egyptian 'super yacht' discovered near Alexandria! ~35m ritual barge near temple of Isis sank in 50 CE earthquakes. Used for Isis festival voyages. Luxury Roman Egypt preserved under sediment.
Egyptian pleasure boat discovered off Alexandria - 1st century CE ritual vessel near temple of Isis
Site mentioned
📍 Antirhodos🌍 Show on the globe
Key facts
- Found 50 meters from temple of Isis on submerged island of Antirhodos off Alexandria coast
- Located 7 meters deep under 1.5 meters of sediment
- Vessel construction unusual, initially thought to be two ships stacked
- 28 meters of preserved timbers, originally approximately 35 meters in length with 7 meter width
- Flat bottom hull with hard chine at bow and rounded turn at stern for shallow water navigation
- Design essential for sailing through city canals
- Greek graffiti on central casing dated use to first half of 1st century CE
- Described as ancient super yacht or pleasure barge called thalamegos in Greek
- Luxuriously fitted vessels used by royal court for excursions
- Central pavilion accommodated revelers for festivals and celebrations
- Proximity to temple of Isis suggests ritual barge role in Isis processions
- Represented solar barge of Isis, mistress of the sea
- Yearly voyage from Alexandria to sanctuary of Osiris at Canopus
- Vessel likely sank when temple destroyed in 50 CE by earthquakes and tidal waves
- Research in early stages, promises insights into life, religion, luxury, and pleasure in early Roman Egypt
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