Ancient Greek Warship Discovered In Egypt's Lost City Of Luxor
So many mysteries lurk in the shadowy depths of the sea. The ocean is not only a place to discover new and exciting marine life. It is also a place where previously unknown pieces of human history emerge. One of the most fascinating archeological finds of 2021 was undoubtedly the lost city of Luxor. Located in ancient Egypt, this sunken 3,400-year-old city has been dubbed the "lost golden city" (via Business Insider).
Discovering an entire city underwater is a bit like opening Mary Poppins' handbag. Just when you think you have uncovered every ancient artifact, skull, skeleton, and piece of pottery, you find out there is more. In this case, "more" comes to us as an ancient Greek warship that was amazingly preserved inside layers of hardened clay. Heritage Daily reports that this fascinating find has been the work of underwater explorers hailing from the European Institute of Sunken Archaeology.
What was a Greek warship doing in Egypt?
At this point, you might be envisioning an epic battle taking place as two empires clash against the mighty sea. However, although the massive Greek artifact is indeed a warship, underwater excavators and historians believe it came in peace, likely as a merchant vessel (via Heritage Daily).
The warship was discovered off the coast of Alexandria's Abu Qir Bay and is only the second of its kind. It now adds to the collection of second century Hellenistic ships, which previously included only the Punic Marsala ship. Standing at an estimated 25 meters (82 feet) in height, the vessel is a marvel of blended architecture from both Greek and Egyptian shipbuilding techniques of the time (via The National News).
This warship is still being studied, but theory suggests it sank when a funerary temple collapsed in the aftermath of an earthquake that rocked an antiquated world. Ironically, it was likely the rock from the temple that sunk the ship and preserved it for future generations to behold.