Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds

Exhibition Website

Nov 4 2018 - Apr 14 2019


The epic story of one of the greatest finds in the history of underwater archaeology, a story that revealed two lost cities of ancient Egypt submerged under the Mediterranean Sea for over a thousand years. World-renowned underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio and his team discovered these submerged worlds uncovering stunning ancient religious, ceremonial, and commercial artifacts, which has led to a greater understanding of life during the age of pharaohs.

More than 200 of these authentic artifacts, including three colossal 16-foot sculptures of a pharaoh, a queen, and a god will be on view. Objects range from the colossal sculptures to precious gold coins and jewelry, bronze vessels, objects inscribed in the ancient Egyptian or Greek languages, and statues from the sunken and forgotten ancient cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus. They will be seen alongside ancient Egyptian artifacts from museums in Cairo and Alexandria, many of which have never been on view in the United States.


Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website 
The bust of the colossal statue of Hapy has been strapped with webbings before being cautiously raised out of the water of Aboukir bay, Egypt. Photo: Christoph Gerigk © Franck Goddio / Hilti Foundation.


Whether or not you go, the companion publication, Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worldsis as entertaining as it is educational. Part history guide, part archeology guide, it tells of the Egyptian cities that thrived over 1,200 years ago at the edge of the Nile Delta and the beautiful artifacts that have been salvaged from those now-submerged sitesInterweaves the history of the region and its leading cities of Canopus, Thonis-Heracleion and Naukratis with photographs and artwork showing what the ancient cities looked like along with the various statues, sculptures, shrines, amulets, coffins, sunken ships and other artifacts found underwater. That area of ancient Egypt was a key trading spot where Egyptians and Greeks lived side-by-side, creating a society that mirrored both cultures. The fascinating history related in the book is wonderfully complemented by hundreds of color photographs depicting artifacts in their watery graves and then restored and displayed. 

Select Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds to learn more, or to place this book in your Amazon shopping cart. Your Amazon purchase through this link generates a small commission that will help to fund the ArtGeek.art search engine.

  • Various Media
  • Ancient
  • Culture / Lifestyle
  • Egyptian

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