The Portus Magnus in Alexandria, or Grand Port, was home to one of the famous Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, sometimes called the Pharos of Alexandria. Built around 280 B.C. by the Ptolemies, it was the longest-standing of the Seven Wonders, lasting into the 1300s A.D. The Lighthouse guided ships into the busy harbor, served as a lookout, and was a very important symbol of power for the city of Alexandria and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. The entire Portus Magnus throughout the late 1st millennium and into the 1300s experienced several natural disasters, including tsunamis and earthquakes, that devastated the harbor and the lighthouse, causing much to sink into the harbor. Having already fallen out of use, it was decided that repairs would not be made and instead the Citadel of Qaitbay was built over the spot. The Citadel served as a very important stronghold for the city and watches over the harbor to this day. 

Unfortunately, due to practical constraints to underwater archaeology, very little is known about the artifacts buried in the harbor. However, recent work by Franck Goddio and the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology has made some very cool discoveries from the harbor. About 2 months ago, the team discovered a massive pleasure boat, measuring 35 meters in length and possibly needing up to 20 rowers. More investigation needs to be done, but initial assessments reveal an interesting historical tie: the ship matches descriptions by the author Strabo, who visited Alexandria in the 20s B.C. I personally find it very exciting that modern discovery is validating ancient literary evidence, which often is treated as somewhat flimsy and taken with a grain of salt.

_{Cover photo: The boat’s well-preserved timbers had been lying only 7 metres underwater and 1.5 metres under the sediment. Photograph: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation}