Lost City of Heracleion Gives Up Its Secrets

Lost City of Heracleion Gives Up Its Secrets
http://intellihub.com/2013/04/29/lost-city-of-heracleion-gives-up-its-secrets/

For centuries it was thought to be a legend, a city of extraordinary wealth mentioned in Homer, visited by Helen of Troy and Paris, her lover, but apparently buried under the sea.

The Telegraph
April 29, 2013

In fact, Heracleion was true, and a decade after divers began uncovering its treasures, archaeologists have produced a picture of what life was like in the city in the era of the pharaohs.

The city, also called Thonis, disappeared beneath the Mediterranean around 1,200 years ago and was found during a survey of the Egyptian shore at the beginning of the last decade.

Now its life at the heart of trade routes in classical times are becoming clear, with researchers forming the view that the city was the main customs hub through which all trade from Greece and elsewhere in the Mediterranean entered Egypt.

Photo: Christoph Gerigk

They have discovered the remains of more than 64 ships buried in the thick clay and sand that now covers the sea bed. Gold coins and weights made from bronze and stone have also been found, hinting at the trade that went on.

Giant 16 foot statues have been uncovered and brought to the surface while archaeologists have found hundreds of smaller statues of minor gods on the sea floor.

Slabs of stone inscribed in both ancient Greek and Ancient Egyptian have also been brought to the surface.

Dozens of small limestone sarcophagi were also recently uncovered by divers and are believed to have once contained mummified animals, put there to appease the gods.
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Lost Egyptian city of Heracleion recreated in 3D
Posted by TANNAncient, ArchaeoHeritage, Archaeology, Breakingnews, Egypt, Greater Middle East, Near East 1:00 PM

Scientists have recreated in 3D the legendary Egyptian city of Heracleion, which submerged nearly 1,200 years ago to produce a picture of what the life was like in the era of the pharaohs.




3D recreation of Heracleion, wjich disappeared beneath the Mediterranean around 1,200
years ago [Credit: Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation/Graphic: Yann Bernard]

Heracleion, a city of extraordinary wealth mentioned in Homer, visited by Helen of Troy, which apparently buried under the sea, was believed to be a legend for centuries.

More than a decade after uncovering its treasures, archaeologists have produced a picture of what life was like in the city in the era of the pharaohs, the Telegraph reported.

The city vanished beneath the Medite-rranean around 1,200 years ago and was found during a survey of the Egyptian shore at the beginning of the last decade.

Now its life at the heart of trade routes in classical times are becoming clear, with researchers forming the view that the city was the main customs hub through which all trade from Greece and elsewhere in the Medite-rranean entered Egypt.

They have discovered the remains of more than 64 ships buried in the thick clay and sand that now covers the sea bed. Gold coins and weights made from bronze and stone have also been found, hinting at the trade that went on.

Giant 16 foot statues have been uncovered and brought to the surface while archaeologists have found hundreds of smaller statues of minor gods on the sea floor.

“It is a major city we are excavating. The site has amazing preservation,” Dr Damian Robinson, director of the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Oxford, who is also part of the team, said.

"We are now starting to look at some of the more interesting areas within it to try to understand life there,” Dr Damian Robinson, director of the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Oxford, who is part of the team, said.

Source: The Asian Age [April 30, 2013]

Hey fascinating post there Spring with interesting addition by the Col.. Interestingly, and probably along the lines of what you were implying, is that this is (in my opinion) more physical evidence that the Holy Bible is the written word of God. Note the "giant" sculptures both underwater and being hoisted aboard the barge. According to every museum I've ever been to and every volunteer or curator I've talked to has said that generally in antiquity, anything done to "life size" meant it was of incredible importance and took up a tremendous amount of time & resources. (i.e. the Mona lisa is just over a foot & a half wide & slightly taller; when viewed through security glass, at appropriate distance it ain't much to look at imho) In a lot of these cultures defending themselves and eating was a full time job it appears. In China the terracotta army buried with the Emperor of Qin consisted of something like 8,000 soldiers measuring 5'5 to 5'8 or something along those lines. If the army was meant to protect him as they believed, why not construct an army of 12' soldiers? Even 3 to 4 thousand would probably be more intimidating. Probably because they were 'replicas' and they weren't replicating or paying respect to 'giants' i.e. David v. goliath. Just hit Steve Quayle's website for better details & books. Thanks again