A joint Egyptian-French archaeological mission between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archeology has uncovered a temple of the goddess Aphrodite from the fifth century BC, alongside other archaeological finds belonging to the temple of Amun Grip.
The discovery was made during underwater excavations in the sunken city of Thonis-Heracleion in Abu Qir Bay , Alexandria.
The Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, announced that the mission had discovered several bronze and ceramic items within the temple imported from Greece.
It also uncovered remnants of buildings supported by wooden beams dating back to the fifth century BC.
The head of the European Institute for Underwater Archeology, Franck Goddio, said that the mission had also uncovered where offerings, votives and precious items were stored in the Western Temple of Amun.
Goddio explained that these feature a collection of gold jewelry, including earrings in the shape of a lion’s head, a pendant, and alabaster containers used to store perfumes and cosmetic ointments.
In addition, the mission also uncovered a set of silver ritual dishes used in religious and funerary rituals, a votive handle made of limestone, and a jug in the shape of a duck made of bronze.
