Egypt · Ptolemaic to Roman Egypt (ring not precisely dated) · Antirhodos, Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt
First known seal ring showing the Lighthouse of Alexandria found underwater off Egypt
The bronze ring came from the sunken royal island of Antirhodos, and an Egyptian antiquities official says it could indicate the palace there was still used in the 2nd century AD.
Antirhodos, Alexandria, Egypt A bronze seal ring engraved with an image of the Pharos, the lighthouse of Alexandria, has been found in underwater excavations off the Egyptian city. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the find. The ring came from the former island of Antirhodos, in the ancient royal harbour.
Hisham El-Leithy is secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. He said it is the first time an image of the lighthouse has been found engraved on a seal ring. A seal ring carried a design that its owner could press into wax or clay to seal a document.
No date for the ring itself has been given. Its engraving resembles well-known images of the lighthouse on coins dated to the 2nd century AD.
What the ring may say about the palace
Antirhodos was part of Portus Magnus, the eastern royal harbour of ancient Alexandria. The island was home to the palace of the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt.
El-Leithy thinks the lighthouse image could indicate that the palace stayed in use until the 2nd century AD. In his reading, it served administrative purposes, including those of the lighthouse. This is an interpretation, and it rests on a single object.
The island is believed to have sunk around the 4th century AD. The sinking followed an earthquake near Crete in AD 365, which set off further earthquakes and a tsunami. Antirhodos now lies about 5 metres under water off the modern city.
The lighthouse itself was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who reigned 280–247 BC. It is thought to have stood at least 100 metres tall, among the tallest structures built by people at the time.
Earthquakes between AD 956 and 1303 badly damaged the tower, and it was abandoned. Its stones were later used to build the Citadel of Qaitbay in 1480. French archaeologists found remains of the lighthouse in 1994.
In 2025, parts of its threshold and foundation paving stones were raised from the sea. They were brought up to help Egypt's effort to reconstruct the site digitally.
Pottery, lamps and glass from eight centuries
Franck Goddio, director of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology, said the team found other objects this season. They include pottery tableware, amphorae, flasks and oil lamps. These date from the 4th century BC to the 4th century AD. Remains of glass vessels from the same period were also found.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt's minister of tourism and antiquities, praised the mission. He said its finds add to knowledge of Alexandria's history.
The excavations are continuing at four sites in the eastern harbour. One is the Temple of Isis. Another is the palace site and western mound on Antirhodos. The others are the remains of the obelisk and the Timonium, known as "Antony's palace".
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