A salvage excavation in Alexandria, Egypt’s second - largest city founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC and a historic Mediterranean port known as “the "Pearl of the Mediterranean”, has uncovered a significant Ptolemaic/early Roman complex, featuring a residential villa with architectural layers extending into the Byzantine era highlighted by high - quality mosaic flooring and a rare circular bath from the Hellenistic Egyptian period.
The archaeological mission was led by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities in Moharam Bek, a centrally located, historic neighbourhood in Alexandria, situated near the city centre and the Masr railway station, known for the presence of the Alexandria Stadium and the Moharam Bek Bridge, a vibrant area serves as a key connecting point and features a mix of traditional and modern residential and commercial buildings.
The site reveals continuous occupation from the Hellenistic period into the Roman and Byzantine eras, highlighting advanced ancient infrastructure with hydraulic installations, including a small swimming pool connected to an integrated water management system and a relevant organization of urban life.
Among the most outstanding findings are mosaic floors using the techniques of Opus Tesselatum, the most common ancient Greek and Roman mosaic technique, utilizing small, regularly shaped cubes (tesserae) of stone, marble, or glass, laid in horizontal or vertical lines, and Opus Sectile, an ancient art technique featuring inlays of precisely shaped stone, marble, mother - of - pearl, or glass to create detailed pictures or patterns on floors and walls, using larger, specially cut pieces to create complex images.
This discovery reflects the diversity of artistic schools present in Alexandria in those periods, highlighting Alexandrian mosaic culture as a cornerstone of Hellenistic and Roman artistic production, characterized by high-- level craftmanship, technical innovation, and the widespread influence of the Egyptian city across the Mediterranean from the late 4th century BC to the 6th century AD.
The excavation also recovered movable objects such as marble statues of the deities Bacchus and Asclepius, a headless statue believed to represent Minerva, coins, oil lamps, pottery, and fragments of stamped amphorae, indicating a thriving commercial and cultural activity with wide - ranging Mediterranean relations.
Authorities have already begun the initial restoration of the pieces and are considering displaying the most prominent ones at the Greco - Roman Museum in Alexandria, while excavations continue at the site.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities the discovery reveals a complete cultural sequence spanning the Ptolemaic, Roman and Byzantine.
The Secretary - General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Hisham El - Leithy, noted that the continued settlement at the site is evidenced by the discovery of a circular “Tholoi” style bath, an ancient Greek - style bathouse (balaneion) characterized by round, domed, or conical - roofed rooms and a Roman villa, both of which demonstrate advanced urban planning and concern for well - being during those eras.
The
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, stated that this discovery
redraws the urban map of ancient Alexandria and constitutes a qualitative
addition to the archaeological record, reflecting the historical importance of
the city as a very relevant cultural hub in various periods.
In addition, according to the head of Central Administration of Antiquities of
Lower Egypt, the findings confirm that the area remained within the city walls
until the Byzantine era and help re - evaluate historical maps of Alexandria, particularly the works of Mahmoud Bey El Falaki, an engineer, astronomer and
scientist who pioneered the urban mapping of ancient Alexandria.
Link
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks a lot to read and note.