Heracleion

This article is about the ancient Egyptian city. For Crete's largest city and capital, see Heraklion.
For the Gnostic who flourished about AD 175, see Heracleon.
Heracleion
Map of Nile Delta showing ancient Canopus, Heracleion, and Menouthis
Heracleion is located in Egypt
Heracleion
Shown within Egypt
Locationnear Alexandria, Egypt
Coordinates31°18′46″N 30°07′44″E / 31.31278°N 30.12889°E / 31.31278; 30.12889

Heracleion (Ancient Greek: Ἡράκλειον Hērákleion), also known as Thonis (Ancient Greek: Θῶνις Thônis; from the Ancient Egyptian: Tȝ-ḥn.t; Coptic: Ⲧϩⲱⲛⲓ Thōni, Coptic pronunciation: [dəˈhoːni])[1] and sometimes called Thonis-Heracleion, was an ancient Egyptian port city located near the Canopic Mouth of the Nile, about 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea.[2] It became inundated and its remains are located in Abu Qir Bay, currently 7 km (4.3 mi) off the coast, under ca. 19 ft (5.8 m) of water,[3][4] and near Abukir.[2][5] The sanctuary of Neith of Sais was located in Thonis.[6] A stele found on the site indicates that late in its history the city was known by both its Egyptian and Greek names.[7][8]

The legendary beginnings of Thonis go back to as early as the 12th century BC, and it is mentioned by ancient Greek historians. Its importance grew particularly during the waning days of the pharaohs.[9]

  1. ^ "TM Places". www.trismegistos.org. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  2. ^ a b Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 74, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  3. ^ "Discovering Thonis-Heracleion". Franck Goddio - Underwater Archaeologist. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  4. ^ Franck Goddio, The Topography and Excavation of Heracleion-Thonis and East-Canopus (1996-2006), Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology: Monograph 1, Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford, 2007 (ISBN 978-0-954962739)
  5. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference naukratis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "The stele from Thonis-Heracleion" (PDF). Franck Goddio Underwater Archaeologist. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  8. ^ Shenker, Jack (15 Aug 2016). "Lost cities #6: how Thonis-Heracleion resurfaced after 1,000 years under water". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 Feb 2018.
  9. ^ Dalya Alberge (2 August 2015). "Ancient Egyptian underwater treasures to be exhibited for the first time". The Guardian.