Ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria — the birthplace of Cleopatra — is crumbling into the sea at an unprecedented rate | Live Science

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Ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria — the birthplace of Cleopatra — is crumbling into the sea at an unprecedented rate

News

By Jess Thomson

published 2 days ago

Coastal erosion from rising sea levels has led to the collapse of 280 buildings across Alexandria, Egypt, over the past two decades.

Buildings in the ancient coastal city of Alexandria are collapsing at an ever increasing rate as a result of sea level rise. (Image credit: Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images)

The historic Egyptian city of Alexandria is crumbling due to rising sea levels, scientists have found.

Over the past decade, the rate at which buildings have collapsed along the ancient city's seafront has increased from around one per year to as many as 40 per year, according to a study published Feb. 12 in the journal Earth's Future.

In the past 20 years, 280 buildings in this 2,300-year-old port city — known for being the birthplace of Cleopatra and the ancient home of the famed Library of Alexandria — have collapsed due to coastal erosion, and 7,000 more are at risk of collapsing in the future, according to the paper. Between 2014 and 2020 alone, 86 buildings completely crumbled, and 201 partially collapsed across the city, resulting in 85 deaths.

"The true cost of this loss extends far beyond bricks and mortar," study co-author Essam Heggy, a water scientist at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering, said in a statement. "We are witnessing the gradual disappearance of historic coastal cities, with Alexandria sounding the alarm. What once seemed like distant climate risks are now a present reality."

The crumbling of coastal buildings results from sea level rise and the subsequent intrusion of seawater into the ground under the city. As saltwater creeps farther inland due to rising sea levels, it increases groundwater levels beneath buildings and other infrastructure and erodes the soil. This can lead the ground to sink, which makes buildings unstable and at risk of collapse. Additionally, saltwater corrodes the steel reinforcements of building foundations, further weakening the structures.

Alexandria is a port city that sits on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, making it vulnerable to seawater intrusion. (Image credit: Ahmed El-Kabbani/Getty Images)

Average global sea levels have risen by between 8 and 9 inches (20 to 23 centimeters) since 1880, with a 4-inch (10 cm) rise since 1993 alone, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If nothing is done to curb climate change, U.S. sea levels could rise by as much as 7.2 feet (2.2 meters) by 2100 compared with the levels seen in 2000.

Low-lying cites face the highest risk of erosion and flooding due to sea level rise, especially those along the U.S. East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast, according to NASA.

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https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeology/egypt-french-egyptian-mission-discovers-splendid-jewels-in-karnak-temple

Egypt, French-Egyptian mission discovers splendid jewels in Karnak temple

by Redazione , published on 04/03/2025
Categories: Archaeology / Disclaimer

A French-Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered splendid gold jewelry in a temple in Karnak: they were in an earthenware container. They date back to the XXVIth dynasty (672-525 B.C.).

Major archaeological discovery in Egypt where the Franco-Egyptian archaeological mission of the Centre Franco-Égyptien d'Étude des Temples de Karnak (CFEETK, French-Egyptian Center for the Study of the Temples of Karnak), in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Archaeology and the French National Center for Scientific Research, was able to uncover several pieces of jewelry dating back to the early XXVI Dynasty (672-525 B.C.C.), during excavation work carried out by the mission in the northwestern sector of the Karnak temples.

The archaeologists, in particular, found a small pottery container that was broken, yet in excellent condition, inside which jewelry in excellent condition was found, including several gold rings, small figurines and gilded amulets. In particular, the collection features a rare triptych depicting the triad of Theban deities-Amon, Mut, and Khonsu. In addition, metal brooches and amulets depicting deities in the form of animals were discovered, along with numerous decorative beads, some of which are coated in gold.

The collaboration between the Egyptian and French sides, especially as it is part of a major project involving the Karnak temples, which aims to develop the archaeological area, the museum, and improve the efficiency of services to enhance the tourist experience at the site as well. As part of this development plan, the tourist routes have been modernized, a new lighting system has been installed, and the shrine of Amenhotep I has been restored and reinstalled in the site's open-air museum. These efforts aim not only to preserve the historical heritage but also to make the Karnak complex an even more attractive destination for domestic and international visitors.

The jewels discovered at Karnak

The jewels discovered at Karnak

The jewels discovered at Karnak

The secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, noted that this discovery contributes significantly to expanding knowledge of the temple and its evolution during the first millennium BCE. He said the recovered objects will provide researchers with a clearer understanding of religious life and the use of amulets and jewelry in Egyptian society during the XXVI Dynasty.

The archaeological team, led by Abdel Ghaffar Wagdy, director general of Luxor Antiquities and head of the mission on behalf of Egypt, has begun the work of restoring and documenting the discovered pieces. Once this process is completed, the artifacts are expected to be displayed at the Luxor Museum, allowing visitors to appreciate their historical and artistic value.

On the French side, mission director Jérémie Hourdin explained that ongoing excavations in the northern area of Karnak have revealed large mud-brick structures probably used as warehouses or workshops related to temple activities. These buildings, which also date back to the XXVI Dynasty, provide valuable information about the organization and operation of the complex during that era.

Egypt, French-Egyptian mission discovers splendid jewels in Karnak temple

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