Taposiris Magna (Abusir el-Malk / Abu Sir)
Taposiris Magna
Ptolemaic to Late Roman (3rd c BCE–7th c CE)·Ptolemaic Egyptian / Greek·🇪🇬 Alexandria Governorate, Lake Mariout western tip, Egypt
About
About Taposiris Magna (Abusir el-Malk / Abu Sir)
Taposiris Magna (Abu Sir Mariout) at the western tip of Lake Mariout/Mareotis, 45 km west of Alexandria, on the limestone ridge to El Alamein — great Ptolemaic city of Osiris (ta-posir of Osiris) with lighthouse-like Pharos mini replica 15 m square on harbour mole? Temple of Osiris-Plouton 12×8 m enclosure dominating ridge, sacred lake harbour regulating Mareotis wines via Taposiris canal (Neilos canal) linking Alexandria to Fayum, limestone tombs with painted alkove, and 2011– search for Cleopatra's tomb focusing on 1.3-km tunnel under temple discovered 2022 aquifer 13 m below. Strabo describes as Dionysiac festival site linked to Osiris.
Why it mattersMareotis harbour network crucible for wine and wheat export; tunnel engineering precedent for Alexandria aqueduct; candidate for Cleopatra–Mark Antony mausoleum debate.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tunnel aqueduct vs initiation passage function
- 02Whether 2009 coins of Cleopatra near harbour denote palace
Theories
- 01Taposiris as western Alexandria necropolis mirroring eastern Canopus association
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Temple under Ptolemy II–III 280–220 BCE; tunnel early Ptolemaic; necropolis Ptolemaic–Roman
- Period
- Ptolemaic to Late Roman (3rd c BCE–7th c CE)
- Culture
- Ptolemaic Egyptian / Greek
- Builders
- Ptolemy II / Roman proxenoi
- Purpose
- Wine harbour on Mareotis and Osiris funerary pilgrimage where Osiris fragments fell; Cleopatra dynastic mausoleum contender
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Temple under Ptolemy II–III 280–220 BCE; tunnel early Ptolemaic; necropolis Ptolemaic–Roman
Initial construction
c. 1236 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
30.9500° N · 29.5167° E · 16 m · 3 mapped features
Temple of Osiris-Plouton
templePtolemaic temple 12×8 m enclosure on ridge
30.9505° N · 29.5170° EHarbour Canal and Mole
hydraulic300 m mole on Lake Mariout linking to Alexandria canal
30.9510° N · 29.5160° ERock-Cut Tunnel
hydraulic1,305 m tunnel 13 m below temple for water/initiation
30.9490° N · 29.5180° E