Magnificent Alexander statue found in Alexandria

Recent excavations in Alexandria have revealed the remains of a building from Ptolemaic times and a bridge.

This is part of an ongoing project directed by the Hellenic Institute for the Research of Alexandria Culture, which in the past 21 years, has been working in the Shalallat Gardens area. In 2015, a large public building belonging to the Ptolemaic era was found, and archaeologists believe it had an arched ceiling. Recently, a carved tunnel was exposed from underneath this massive building at a depth of ten meters.

[Marble statue of Alexander the Great found in the Shallalat Gardens in Alexandria - 
Credit: ANA/MNA]

This is exciting news because these remains are part of the Royal Quarters of the Ptolemies, which have been documented in antiquity. So far, the site has exposed some extraordinary finds of pottery, mosaic floors, and coins. The most significant discovery is, of course, this unique marble statue of Alexander the Great, executed in pure Hellenistic style and transferred to the National Museum of Alexandria for us to see!

The museum is a treasure trove exhibiting artifacts from old Egypt, as well as from Hellenistic, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras, including underwater finds. It is the only museum that tells the history of Alexandria through antiquity, and it is not surprising that the lovely head of Alexander the Great is kept here.

 [Picture from the National Museum of Alexandria]

It seems that bit by bit, we are getting closer to getting a picture of the heart of ancient Alexandria – although there still is a very long way to go.