Remains of the lighthouse were found in 1994 by a group of French archaeologists, and in 2025, parts of its threshold and foundation paving stones were resurfaced.
Follow us on GoogleA bronze seal ring engraved with an image of the historic Pharos of Alexandria was discovered during underwater excavations, the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced early this month.
The lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (280–247 BCE). It is believed to have stood at least 100 meters tall, making it one of the world’s tallest man-made structures at the time.
Earthquakes between 956 CE and 1303 severely damaged it, after which it was abandoned and its stones were later used to build the Citadel of Qaitbay in 1480.
Remains of the lighthouse were found in 1994 by a group of French archaeologists, and in 2025, parts of its threshold and foundation paving stones were resurfaced to aid in Egypt’s digital reconstruction effort of the site.
The ring was found at the former island of Antirhodos, which once was part of Alexandria’s Portus Magnus, the ancient royal eastern harbor. The island was also home to the Ptolemaic Egyptian palace.
The island is believed to have sunk around the 4th century CE, following an an earthquake near Crete in 365 that triggered additional earthquakes and a tsunami. The site now lies underwater, off the coast of modern Alexandria, at a depth of approximately five meters.
Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, affirmed that it is the first time an image of the ancient lighthouse has ever been found engraved on a seal ring.
According to Leithy, the lighthouse’s depiction on the ring could indicate that the palace of Antirhodos remained in use until the second century CE for administrative purposes, including those of the lighthouse.
The image is similar to other well-known depictions of the structure seen on coins dated to the second century CE.
Amphorae, oil lamps also discovered during ongoing excavations
Alongside the ring’s discovery, European Institute for Underwater Archaeology Director Franck Goddio explained that several other artifacts had been unearthed by the excavation team during the current season.
Such artifacts include pottery tableware, amphorae, flasks, and oil lamps dating from the 4th century BCE to the 4th century CE. The remnants of glass vessels, dating to the same period, were also found.
The excavations, Goddio noted, are concentrated on four sites in the eastern harbor area, such as the Temple of Isis, the palace site and the western mound on the royal island of Antirhodos, the remains of the obelisk, and the Timonium ("Antony's palace").
Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy applauded the archaeological mission for its finds, noting their contribution to enriching knowledge of Alexandria's history.
Follow us on GoogleSource: The Jerusalem Post · MIRIAM SELA-EITAM
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