Divers off the coast of Egypt find an amazing 2,000-year-old “floating palace” in the ancient harbor of Alexandria

Archaeologists conducting excavations in the ancient harbor of Alexandria, Egypt, recently made a amazing discovery. For the first time ever, they have unearthed from the sea floor the well-preserved timbers of a ‘thalamagoi’, a famous type of pleasure barge that were popular among the Egyptian elites and the Ptolemies, the last pharaohs.

These vessels were used to ferry elites around for feasting, leisure cruises, and religious ceremonies. In 47 BC, Cleopatra VII showed Julius Caesar around Egypt in one of these floating palaces.

2,000-year-old “floating palace” dated to the first half of the 1 century AD

The discovery was made in the Port of the Royal Island of Antirhodos by European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), under the direction of Franck Goddio and in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The island is now submerged but was once the home of the temple of Isis, where the team had been conducting excavations.

Goddio put forward the hypothesis that the barge may have belonged to the sanctuary and used in ceremonies. He said in a statement that the vessel “could well have sunk during the catastrophic destruction of this temple around 50 AD.”

The researchers were able to date the boat to the first half of the 1st century AD based on graffiti in Greek found on the central carling. That detail further reinforces the hypothesis that the vessel was built in Alexandria.

The shipwreck matches ancient description of Egyptian pleasure boats

The remains of the shipwreck resemble the description of ‘Thalamagoi’ given by the ancient author Strabo who described how these pleasure boats were used which he saw firsthand when he visited Alexandria around 29-25 BC. The vessel measured roughly 115 feet long and 22 feet wide of which around 90-foot length section remains.

The structure allowed for “a maximum breadth for the ship to accommodate a central pavilion” where feasts could be held. “The particularity of the ship is the flat-bottomed hull with a hard chine at the bow and a rounded turn at the stern,” explained the marine archaeologist in a statement.

“This intriguing shipwreck could have been used along the canals in Alexandria as Strabo described,” said Goddio.

“Although research on the wreck is still at an early stage, it promises to be a fascinating journey into life, religion, luxury and pleasure on the waterways of early Roman Egypt,” the researcher commented.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.