Alexandria: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy asserted that the exhibition of sunken antiquities at the Alexandria National Museum represents a strong message promoting Egypt's archaeological position globally. It reflects the state's success in protecting its cultural heritage and presenting it to future generations, he said during the inauguration of the exhibition on Wednesday evening.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the Minister said that the exhibition highlights an important aspect of Alexandria's history buried under the sea. It offers visitors a rare opportunity to view treasures discovered at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The exhibition showcases 86 archaeological pieces, some displayed for the first time.
He added that "Whenever we conduct excavation work at any site in Alexandria, we find new antiquities that confirm the greatness of our civilization spanning the ages," stressing that these discoveries reflect Alexandria's unique historical significance and confirm it as truly the Bride of the Mediterranean. The exhibition includes a distinguished collection of artifacts recovered from Abu Qir Bay since 2000 by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology.
He pointed out that the exhibition presents the history of the sunken cities that gradually succumbed over the centuries due to earthquakes, land subsidence, and rising sea levels, yet during their peak, they were thriving social, economic, and military centers between the 6th century BC and the 4th century AD.
The minister praised Alexandria's museums, especially the Greek-Roman Museum, which is a unique global edifice rich with rare artifacts, and the National Museum of Alexandria, which holds important antiquities and features a unique museum exhibition scenario. He also hailed the efforts of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and both Egyptian and foreign archaeological missions, noting that Egypt hosts more than 300 foreign archaeological missions.
Meanwhile, the minister referred to the upcoming opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum scheduled for November 1st, emphasizing that the world eagerly awaits this opening. He explained that the opening will be global and grand, different from the Mummies Parade or the Path of the Sphinxes celebration, and it will be held in a ceremony befitting Egypt's name and civilizations. He affirmed that the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum is one of the most important cultural events worldwide, with global attention turning to Egypt as the origin of Egyptology and the home of ancient human civilization.