Summary of our 1996/1997 Alexandria Missions

The rediscovery of the long-vanished Royal Quarter, where the last of the Ptolemies, Cleopatra, reigned, was the result of many years of searching through historical records, the application of the most advanced technology and over 1,000 dives by our team.

With the highly accurate maps drawn up, which will replace the various hypothetical maps drafted earlier, to form the basis for all future archaeological work in this zone, the exact topography of the legendary Royal City can now be seen.

Some of the main highlights include:

• The reefs at the entrance of the 'Magnus Portus'
• The Cape Lochias where the kings' palaces and a royal port lay
• The peninsula where the temple of Poseidon stood and where Mark Anthony had built on a platform at the end of a pier a palace-sanctuary - the 'Timonium'
• The legendary island of Antirhodos, property of the kings, where a Royal House and most probably a sanctuary of Isis stood, as well as a private harbor
• The ancient coast with its important ruins showing the inner palaces (the 'Basileia'), temples and administrative buildings
• The different ports which made up the 'Magnus Portus'