Menouthis Bay — Canopic Annex
Ptolemaic to Early Byzantine (332 BCE–641 CE)·Ptolemaic Egyptian–Greek·🇪🇬 Alexandria Governorate, Egypt
About
About Menouthis Bay — Canopic Annex
Menouthis Bay — Canopic Annex in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt is a Ptolemaic to Early Byzantine (332 BCE–641 CE) submerged-city attributed to Ptolemaic Egyptian–Greek. Submerged bay town annex of Canopus with Ptolemaic criosphinxes at 12 m depth. Goddio: Menouthis criosphinxes and Isis temple at 12 m depth north Abu Qir Bay.
Why it mattersKey submerged harbour illustrating Ptolemaic Egyptian–Greek maritime engineering
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Sea-level change marker
- 02Harbour engineering
Theories
- 01Canopic branch shifting
- 02Mediterranean port typology
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 332 BCE
- Period
- Ptolemaic to Early Byzantine (332 BCE–641 CE)
- Culture
- Ptolemaic Egyptian–Greek
- Purpose
- Submerged bay town annex of Canopus with Ptolemaic criosphinxes at 12 m depth
- Excavation
- Submerged
c. 332 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1500 CE
Submergence by sea-level rise
c. 1995 CE
Underwater survey
On the ground
Structures & features
31.3100° N · 30.1200° E · -12 m · 4 mapped features
Menouthis Bay — Canopic Annex — Breakwater / Mole
moleHarbour mole or breakwater structure
31.3101° N · 30.1201° EMenouthis Bay — Canopic Annex — Anchorage Basin
basinHarbour basin with mooring stones
31.3098° N · 30.1201° EMenouthis Bay — Canopic Annex — Storehouse / Quay
quayWarehouses or quay wall
31.3104° N · 30.1198° EMenouthis Bay — Canopic Annex — Drowned Shoreline Settlement
shorelineShoreline houses now underwater
31.3096° N · 30.1198° E