Tenth International Congress of Egyptologists Abstracts of Papers

XICE – Abstract of Papers
The underwater survey of the Greek mission in Alexandria: 1998-2007 seventeen
campaigns
Harry E. Tzalas
The Hellenic Institute of Ancient and Mediaeval Alexandrian Studies has obtained a
concession from the Supreme Council of Antiqutities of Egypt, for an underwater
archaeological survey of the sea area extending eastwards of Cape Silsileh, in
Alexandria. The total length of the littoral to be surveyed is 17 kilometers and the
surface is circa 44 M2. It extends from the Suburb of Chatby to the Montazah
Peninsula, ancient Lesser Taposiris. Since November 1998 the Greek Mission
composed of Archaeologist-divers, historians, marine geologists and retorers has
carried out seventeen surveys on six different sub-sites. The surveys focused on:
1. The submerdge ancient Cape Lochias, that was part of the Ptolemaic Royal
Quarters. Over 400 architectural elements of the Graeco-Roman times have
been traced. The finds are varied and include a monolithic tower of a granite
pylon which probably marked the location of the Temple of Isis Lochias, a
granite architrave of a monumnetal door wich if reconstituted should be 7
meters in hight, a complete base of red granite of over 2 meters high, several
inscribed pharaonic blocks and slabs with low relief representations and
hierogliphic inscriptions.
2. There are also remains in the shallows of structures that may be associated to
the proto-Christian martyrium of St. Mark.
3. On a reef, in deeper waters more than 40 stone anchors were found. They date
from the mediaeval times. There is also the lead components of a very large
Hellenistic or Roman composite anchor.
4. The remains of a submerdged stone quary coexist with shaft burials were
surveyed and drawn before been totally obliterated by the widening of the new
Corniche coastal road.
5. The remains of a large Necropolis and the foundations of some large
unidentified structure have also been partialy surveyed in shallow waters.
6. A large amount of amphorae and sherd testify to the presence of maritime
activities and of shipwrecks on the El Hassan Reef at 500 meters distance
from the Easter Port entrance.
The proposed paper will attempt to evaluate the importance of these finds and
their contribution to ancient and mediaeval history and the topography of Alexandria
in general and its the eastern suburb in particular.
Ramesses II as a deity at Abu Simbel
Martina Ullmann
In his influential study “Features of the Deification of Ramesses II” Labib Habachi
took the temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel as starting point of his
considerations. 166 This was justified not only by the outstanding preservation of both
structures but first of all by the particular importance of this ritual complex for the
166 L. HABACHI, Features of the Deification of Ramesses II (Glückstadt, 1969).
261