Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets
Saite to Roman (550 BCE–50 BCE Thonis = Heracleion Greek; 8th c. BCE Canopic temple) sank 100–300 CE subsidence and liquefaction·Egyptian-Saite → Ptolemaic Thonis first port before Alexandria with Decree of Sais 380 BCE twin stelae (Rosetta precursor) and Amun of Gereb·🇪🇬 Nile Delta, Abu Qir Bay, Thonis-Heracleion channel islets near Aboukir east Alexandria, Canopic mouth 45 ×? submerged centre, Egypt
About
About Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets
Thonis Goddio 2000 rediscovery after10 m, temple Amun Gereb with Sais stele 380 BCE. Recorded context — Period: Saite to Roman (550 BCE–50 BCE Thonis = Heracleion Greek; 8th c. BCE Canopic temple) sank 100–300 CE subsidence and liquefaction; Culture: Egyptian-Saite → Ptolemaic Thonis first port before Alexandria with Decree of Sais 380 BCE twin stelae (Rosetta precursor) and Amun of Gereb; Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone temple, wood houses, stele granite 3.5 m, bronze cauldrons; Condition: submerged 10 m — excavated Goddio full settlement.
Why it mattersKey Egyptian-Saite → Ptolemaic Thonis first port before Alexandria with Decree of Sais 380 BCE twin stelae (Rosetta precursor) and Amun of Gereb submerged-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Collapse cause
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 700 BCE temple Amun-Gereb; 550 BCE city houses islets; Decrees 380 BCE twin stelae 4 m
- Period
- Saite to Roman (550 BCE–50 BCE Thonis = Heracleion Greek; 8th c. BCE Canopic temple) sank 100–300 CE subsidence and liquefaction
- Culture
- Egyptian-Saite → Ptolemaic Thonis first port before Alexandria with Decree of Sais 380 BCE twin stelae (Rosetta precursor) and Amun of Gereb
- Purpose
- Canopic canal islet city (110 ha) with houses on islets linked by bridges over 700 m canal system — Frank Goddio 2000 find central island temple of Amun 100 m and canal houses 700 m string
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1947
- Excavation
- Excavated
1890 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets
700 BCE temple Amun-Gereb; 550 BCE city houses islets; Decrees 380 BCE twin stelae 4 m
Initial construction / first occupation at Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets
On the ground
Structures & features
31.3080° N · 30.1140° E · -10 m · 3 mapped features
- Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets — Principal Harbourharbourharbour at Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets — hydraulic feature31.3061° N · 30.1129° E
- Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets — Wall Annex 2wallwall at Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets — hydraulic feature31.3086° N · 30.1138° E
- Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets — Southern Templetempletemple at Thonis-Heracleion Annex — Central Canal House Islets — outlier feature31.3093° N · 30.1131° E