New image of an ancient wonder: Divers find ring showing Lighthouse of Alexandria at sunken palace

Underwater archaeologists have unearthed a bronze signet ring showcasing the Lighthouse of Alexandria at a submerged Egyptian palace. The discovery, made on Antirhodos Island, was hailed as a significant find by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology, which announced the discovery on Wednesday. The ring, carved with an image of the lighthouse, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

While the institute did not specify the ring's precise date or ownership, it did note similarities between the lighthouse image and those found on coins from the second century AD. The excavation, led by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio, revealed that the island of Antirhodos once served as a center of power, possibly housing administrative offices connected to the lighthouse.

Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry described this as the first known depiction of the lighthouse engraved on a signet ring. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, completed around 280 BC during the reign of Ptolemy II, stood more than 100 meters tall before being reduced to ruins by earthquakes in the Middle Ages. It was later incorporated into a fortress built by Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay in the late 15th century.

The Antirhodos palace, described by Greek geographer Strabo, provided further insights into the complex's usage. Goddio's team, collaborating with Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and funded by the Hilti Foundation, is also excavating other sites in Alexandria's Eastern Harbour, including the temple of Isis, a palace associated with Mark Antony, and the Timonium.

These excavations aim to uncover architectural remnants spanning several thousand square meters, including monumental statues, inscriptions, and ancient vessels uncovered in previous missions.