In the waters near Alexandria, Egypt, researchers have recovered ancient statues and historical artifacts from the submerged ruins of the city of Thonis-Heracleion, once a flourishing trading hub. According to the portal tagesschau.de, the discovery provides valuable insights into the city’s prosperous past and the sudden events that led to its decline.

Among the finds is a headless and footless granite statue measuring 2.17 meters in height. When fully assembled, it is believed to stand up to five meters tall. Archaeologists also discovered remains of an ancient ship near the site.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that this is the first major success in the ongoing excavation project that began in 2001 to explore the outskirts of Thonis-Heracleion.

Experts believe the city thrived during the Ptolemaic era, possibly even earlier, from the time of Alexander the Great up until the Roman period. It served as a major maritime trading port until it was submerged following an earthquake in the 2nd century AD.

Before the founding of Alexandria in 331 BC, Thonis-Heracleion held a key role in Egypt’s international sea trade.