By: Amira El-hamy
In an attempt to revive the glory of “The Cradle of Greek Civilization in Egypt”, Alexandria, the Minister of Antiquities, recently announced the plan for building the long awaited Underwater Museum of Egypt’s sunken antiquities over the Mediterranean sea.
The Many Layers of Alexandrian Greek traces
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Alexandria was founded around a small Ancient Egyptian town c. 331 BC by Alexander the Great. It became an important centre of Roman and Byzantine Egypt for almost 1000 years until the Muslim conquest of Egypt in AD 641, when a new capital was founded at Fustat (later named Cairo). Alexandria was best known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; its Great Library (the largest in the ancient world; now replaced by Bibliotheca Alexandria ); and the Necropolis, which is also called the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. The catacombs is a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological objects that cleverly combine the Pharaonic funeral cult and early Imperial Roman influences; it is also one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Alexandria was the second most powerful city of the ancient world after Rome.
Ongoing maritime archaeology in the harbour of Alexandria is revealing details of Alexandria both before the arrival of Alexander and during the Ptolemaic dynasty. From the late 18th century, Alexandria became a major centre of the international shipping industry and one of the most important trading centres in the world, both because it profited from the easy overland connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and the lucrative trade in Egyptian cotton.
The Underwater Museum: The sunken city is back to life!
Such a heritage cannot be neglected, the Underwater Museum will actually work on reviving the many layers of historical heritage of ancient Alexandria which is actually buried under the clear crystal water of the enormous Mediterranean Sea. According to the announcements of Ministry of antiquities, in 2008 the French architect, Jacques Rougerie, submitted the architectural design of the Underwater Museum and it actually got approved by the UNESCO and Minstry of antiquities. The Underwater Museum will allow the display of Egypt’s sunken treasures; it will allow tourists and visitors to see the remains of the sunken Lighthouse of Alexandria and the royal court of Queen Cleopatra’s palace. 60 pieces survived from the royal court of Cleopatra including a Sphinx statue. The location chosen for the museum is the Eastern harbour, which was, during the ancient times, a reflection of different combined historical mix of Greece, Rome, and the old culture of the Pharaos, leaving the “Bride of the Mediterranean” (Alexandria), a glorified centre of different civilizations.
Many of the treasures of old civilization were buried under the Mediterranean Sea due to severe earthquakes. The Museum will actually focus on displaying these treasures, as the Minister of Antiquities declared. According to the design of the French architect, the Museum will consist of three parts. The first part will be onshore, which will include treasures that were raised from the sea, and survived the various ecological changes. The second part of the Museum will be offshore, also including different items from under the sea, however, they will be displayed in aquariums. A fiberglass tunnel will allow visitors to cross to the third part of the Museum, the Sunken City, which is lying peacefully under the mysterious waters of the Mediterranean.
The Bride of the Mediterranean speaks for itself!
Egyptologist Ahmed Seddik stated, that building an Underwater Museum in Alexandria, would have the effect of attracting millions of tourists. Alexandria occupies a position of preeminence when it comes to the Ancient Greek World. Alexandria was the Hellenic Nilotic melting pot. Yet, much of classic Alexandria is buried under the modern city. Fortunately for us, unfortunately for the ancient citizens, the Sunken City in the Mediterranean Sea is one of the greatest marine treasure-troves in the world. Remember, this City claimed one of the more notable wonders of the Seven Wonders in the Ancient World, the Lighthouse. The Underwater Museum is a sure path to re-energize the city and bring it more fame and fortune.
“If Egypt manages to create the Underwater Museum in Alexandria! That would be on the scale of the New Library or rather a new Suez Canal,” says Seddik. Speaking of the origin of the name Alexandria, Seddik explains that Alexander comes from the Greek, Alexandros, which means the defender of men and it is clear, he was quite aptly named.
Finally, it is great to know that Egypt will ever last inspire the world with its unique treasures and antiquities and significant history. Even if these treasures are sunken, they still grab worldwide attention.
