The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has discovered a statue of Alexander the Great within an ancient "residential and commercial zone" in Alexandria that they believe was a trade centre during the Ptolemaic period.
After 9 months of digging, the archaeologists made their discovery.
At the site, the team discovered moulds for statues of Alexander the Great, as well as an alabaster bust of the legendary ancient leader.
Among these items were materials for making warrior amulets.
As they explored the al-Shatby neighbourhood of Alexandria, "the mission discovered a large network of tunnel tanks painted pink for storing rain, flood, and groundwater to be used during the draught time," said Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, to the Xinhua news agency.
Waziri went on to describe the town's layout: "it was composed of a main street and several branch roads that were all connected by a sanitation network."
He believes the area was active between the 2nd and 4th centuries B.C.
Waziri also mentioned that the team discovered pottery pots, coins, plates, fishing tools, and rest stops for travellers.
The ruins of the area's buildings, combined with the artefacts discovered there, have led the team to believe that the town once had a bustling market selling pots and workshops for the creation of statues, amulets, and other items.
Alexander III of Macedon, also known as Alexander the Great, was a Greek king who ruled the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon.
He was born in 356 BC in Pella, Greece, as a member of the Argead dynasty.
At the age of 20, he succeeded his father, King Philip II, to the throne and spent the majority of his reign conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Western Asia and Northeastern Africa.
Hellenistic Alexandria was best known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria (the Pharos), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the Great Library (the largest in the ancient world); and the Necropolis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.
After Rome, Alexandria was once the second-most powerful city in the ancient Mediterranean region.
In recent years, Cairo has announced a slew of archaeological discoveries in the hopes of reviving a vital tourism sector battered by a 2011 uprising, insurgent attacks, and the coronavirus pandemic.
(With inputs from agencies)
https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-dig-uncovers-a-2200-year-old-alexander-the-great-statue-409483
2021-08-30 14:33:43Z
CAIiEN2fyfCJykft6H-3QHRkwnkqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowvr39CjDhj_UCMM_gqwY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Egypt dig uncovers a 2,200 year old `Alexander the Great` statue - WION"
Post a Comment