Egypt's Sunken Treasures

by Goddio, Franck

• ISBN13: 9783791339702
• ISBN10: 3791339702
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: Prestel Pub

Summary

In the shallow waters of Aboukir Bay off the coast of Egypt, the ruins of three ancient cities??????Alexandria, Heraklion, and Canopus??????lie along with valuable clues to the way their citizens lived and worshipped. The French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio discovered these relics, which include statuary, jewelry, pediments, stone tablets, and fragments of buildings, all lost for nearly two thousand years. In addition to remarkable photographs of the excavation process, this illuminating volume connects the artifacts to the lives of Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, and Mark Anthony. It discusses the interactions among the three cities, between Egyptians and ancient Greeks, and the influences each civilization had on the other. An exciting volume for anyone interested in ancient history, this richly illustrated book is the most comprehensive examination to date on the excavation of the lost cities below Aboukir Bay.

Table of Contents

The Region and Its History
Rediscovered Sites	p. 26
The History of Alexandria and the Surrounding Region	p. 49
Religion and Cults
Myths and Legends	p. 58
A Jar Bringing Hope for Eternal Life - The Osiris-Canopus	p. 62
Back Together after Decades Apart - Isis and Harpokrates	p. 69
As Grey as the Fertile Riverbed - Father Nile	p. 81
From Astronomical Observation to Mythology and Astrology - Naos of the Decades	p. 87
Gods, Goddesses and Pharaonic Royalty	p. 91
Colossal and Fertile - Hapy, the Inundation of the Nile	p. 100
Over Life-Sized - A Ptolemaic Ruling Couple	p. 116
A Beauty from the Depths - The Dark Queen	p. 121
As Beautiful as Aphrodite - A Ptolemaic Queen	p. 124
Underlining the Good Deeds of a Ruler - The Stele of Ptolemy VIII	p. 134
Cults and Rituals	p. 138
Gold for the House of the Gods - Ptolemy III Foundation Plaque	p. 140
The Fear of a Forbidden Contact - Priest with Osiris-Canopus	p. 160
A Guarantor for Fertility - Sarapis and Calathos	p. 174
Monasteries and Workshops	p. 194
Witness of the Islamic Presence - Coins	p. 200
Cities, Ports and Palaces
Heracleion-Thonis: Customs Station and Emporion	p. 219
Let It Be Recognizable to All - Athena's Decorative Helmet Crest	p. 226
An Extraordinary Pair of Twins - The Steles of the Pharaoh Nectanebo I	p. 236
Excursus: Alexandria, the World's Trading Post	p. 241
Excursus: The Coins	p. 244
Daily Life in the Canopic Region	p. 246
The Scent of Gods - An Incense Burner	p. 256
Excursus: The Metal Finds from Heracleion-Thonis	p. 264
Excursus: Egyptian Metalwork	p. 265
The Portus Magnus of Alexandria	p. 266
The Good Spirit Watching over City and Country - The Agathodaemon	p. 276
From Excavation to Exhibition
Restoration and Conservation	p. 282
Catalogue
Canopus	p. 292
Heracleion	p. 305
Alexandria	p. 355
Appendices
Chronology	p. 366
Gods and Goddesses	p. 370
Glossary	p. 372
Notes	p. 376
Bibliography	p. 380
Contributors	p. 394
Lenders	p. 395
Acknowledgements	p. 395
Exhibition	p. 398
Catalogue	p. 399
Imprint	p. 400
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.