Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided
Ptolemaic to Byzantine (300 BCE–750 CE Canopus branch port extention, Justinian baths 500 CE) submerged 750 CE after 1303 liquefaction 1303 Crete 9 8.0?·Ptolemaic → Roman → Byzantine Canopic branch pilgrim shrine of Serapis and Osiris shrine·🇪🇬 Nile Delta, Abu Qir Bay, east Canopus city near Thonis 2.5 km east, Menouthis east island, Abu Qir east, Egypt
About
About Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided
Canopus Goddio 2000 Byzantine and Osiris Serapis. Recorded context — Period: Ptolemaic to Byzantine (300 BCE–750 CE Canopus branch port extention, Justinian baths 500 CE) submerged 750 CE after 1303 liquefaction 1303 Crete 9 8.0?; Culture: Ptolemaic → Roman → Byzantine Canopic branch pilgrim shrine of Serapis and Osiris shrine; Field status: excavated; Materials: Byzantine bath hydraulic, Osirion, harbour moles; Condition: submerged 8 m.
Why it mattersKey Ptolemaic → Roman → Byzantine Canopic branch pilgrim shrine of Serapis and Osiris shrine submerged-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Seasonal gathering
- 02Observatory
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 300 BCE harbor; Byz bath 500 CE
- Period
- Ptolemaic to Byzantine (300 BCE–750 CE Canopus branch port extention, Justinian baths 500 CE) submerged 750 CE after 1303 liquefaction 1303 Crete 9 8.0?
- Culture
- Ptolemaic → Roman → Byzantine Canopic branch pilgrim shrine of Serapis and Osiris shrine
- Purpose
- Sister to Heracleion islet city (60 ha) with Byzantine Baths 30 m × 20 m with hydraulic plaster and Serapis temple — pilgrim city of Osiris Canopus vase Canopic jar name origin
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1950
- Excavation
- Excavated
300 BCE harbor; Byz bath 500 CE
Initial construction / first occupation at Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided
c. 800 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided
On the ground
Structures & features
31.3430° N · 30.0980° E · -8 m · 3 mapped features
- Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided — Principal Harbourharbourharbour at Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided — hydraulic feature31.3414° N · 30.0991° E
- Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided — Northern Wallwallwall at Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided — hydraulic feature31.3432° N · 30.0994° E
- Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided — Southern Templetempletemple at Canopus — Menouthis Islet City with Byz Baths Subsided — primary structure31.3412° N · 30.0964° E
Gallery