Tuesday, 15th April 2008 (766 views)

Gold coins and jewellery lost at sea over 1,000 years ago are among the ancient artefacts going on show in a new display of Egypt's sunken treasures in Madrid, according to reports.

Artdaily.org says the show, which is being held at the Matadero de Legazpi, features pieces recovered from the "lost cities" of Heracleion and Canopus, dating from the last pharaohs to Alexander the Great and the Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires.

They are part of the collection of artefacts discovered by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio off the coast of modern day Alexandria and in the Bay of Aboukir, the site says. Mr Goddio work has so far uncovered previously lost Egyptian treasures dating back to the seventh century BC, it adds.

All of the items in the exhibition were lost when the ancient cities of Alexandria, Canopus and Heracleion fell into the sea as a result of natural disasters.

Heracleoin was ancient Egypt's main port and it takes its name from mythical hero Hercules, who along with Helen of Troy is believed to have visited the city. It was sunk in the sixth or seventh century AD and had been lost without trace until Mr Goddio and his team discovered it in 2000.

 

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