By Hassan Saadallah
The SCA is collaborating with a Polish team to transform the archaeological
city of Marina into an 'archaeological site museum'. It is the first
Roman
resort uncovered in the north of Egypt.
Excavations on the site have led to the unearthing of 28 houses and 200
tombs, some of which are carved in the rock up to 10 metres deep.
According to Dr Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the SCA, Marina is one
of the most important Greco-Roman cities found intact on the Mediterranean
coast. It includes villas, temples, palaces, cisterns, baths and
tombs
that
include a memorial of the Roman emperor, Caesar Commodus. Because of
its
historic and archaeological significance, measures have been taken to protect
it from the creeping urbanisation of modern summer resorts on the coast.
The Director of Lower Egypt Antiquities, Dr Mohamed Abdul Maqsoud, explains
that Marina dates to the third century AD and was uncovered by chance in
1986 when a Chinese company was engaged in construction work. Bulldozers
digging on the site exposed parts of columns and baths. A survey,
conducted
to probe the area, has revealed that a city as large as 1.5km lies underground.
The city apparently abounds in unique architectural structures.
The team of excavators have managed to outline the features of the city
and the roads that link it to a harbour, in addition to the numerous tombs.
Remains of the harbour were found underwater, including quays and breakwaters.
Several archaeological pieces - known as the 'Fayyoum Faces' - were found
in good condition. It is unusual for similar items to be found undamaged
in coastal areas. The villas found show finesse and elegance typical
of
houses on the coast. Items used for everyday life such as lamps, spoons,
glasses and chairs were also found. A statue of the goddess of beauty,
Afrodite,
sitting on a white marble rock was among the excavated items. Stables
have
been located alongside villas and the city was surprisingly found to have
had an advanced sewerage system. So far the walls of some of the
structures,
along with tombs and memorials, have been restored. Yet a lot more
work
is still needed to reveal the whole city.
