Statue of a Ptolemaic King

Beneath the waters of Abu Qir Bay, near modern-day Alexandria, archaeologists uncovered a remarkable statue believed to depict Ptolemy II Philadelphus, one of the Greek rulers of Egypt’s Ptolemaic dynasty, which lasted from 305 to 30 BC. The statue, carved from red granite quarried in Aswan, was found among the submerged ruins of Thonis-Heracleion—an ancient port city that sank due to earthquakes and rising sea levels in the 2nd century BC. The Ptolemies, descendants of Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, ruled Egypt while embracing its culture to solidify their power. They appeared in Egyptian dress, offered tributes to gods like Amun and Isis, and portrayed themselves as pharaohs in temples and art. This particular statue once stood at the entrance of the Great Temple of Amun-Gereb, symbolizing divine kingship. Thonis-Heracleion itself was a major religious center, known for hosting the Mysteries of Osiris—annual festivals celebrating death and rebirth, in which the Ptolemies actively participated to connect with the Egyptian people. During Ptolemy II’s reign, Egypt saw cultural and economic growth. He expanded the famous Library of Alexandria and maintained diplomatic ties with the wider Hellenistic world. The rediscovery of this statue is more than an archaeological marvel—it’s a window into a time when Greek and Egyptian civilizations intertwined, blending power, belief, and tradition. And now, from beneath the sea, that history resurfaces once more.