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

Underwater archaeologists have unearthed a bronze signet ring in the submerged palace of Antirhodos, a once-powerful island in Alexandria’s Portus Magnus. The ring bears an image of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The European Institute for Underwater Archaeology announced the discovery, which is considered significant due to its potential to shed light on the role of the palace and the lighthouse.

The institute did not disclose the exact date of the ring's creation, attributing the image primarily to those found on coins from the second century AD. The excavations, led by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio, have been ongoing in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour, where they have uncovered submerged cities, temples, shipwrecks, and other ancient structures.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, completed around 280 BC, was an iconic structure standing over 100 metres tall. It guided ships into the city’s harbor until earthquakes reduced it to ruins in the Middle Ages. The Mamluk sultan Qaitbay later built a fortress on the site, incorporating stone from the lighthouse. The Antirhodos palace, once the center of power, was described by the Greek geographer Strabo.

The new find, discovered in Antirhodos, suggests the palace may have housed administrative offices related to the lighthouse, providing valuable insights into its historical significance.