Sunken luxury: 2,000-year-old "pleasure barge" discovered in Alexandria's ancient harbor
By bellecarter // 2025-12-16
Copy
 
  • Underwater archaeologists in Alexandria, Egypt, have discovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old wooden barge, estimated to have been 115 feet long, near the sunken island of Antirhodos.
  • Led by Franck Goddio, the team hypothesizes the vessel is a thalamagos—a luxurious "pleasure barge" used by the elite during the Ptolemaic dynasty, the last pharaonic rule of Egypt.
  • The find is historically significant as the first potential physical evidence of such ceremonial vessels, which were previously known only from ancient texts and art describing their opulent use.
  • The barge may have had a later ritual purpose in Roman-era ceremonies for the goddess Isis, reflecting the cultural transition after Rome annexed Egypt.
  • While hailed as a "spectacular find," maritime archaeologists emphasize that further analysis is required to definitively confirm the wreck's identity and exact function.
In a stunning underwater discovery that promises to illuminate the opulent twilight of ancient Egypt's last dynasty, a team of archaeologists has uncovered the well-preserved timbers of a 2,000-year-old vessel believed to be a luxurious "pleasure barge." The find was made in October by a team led by renowned French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio, who was excavating the sunken ruins of the Portus Magnus, the Great Harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. The barge, which may have once ferried Ptolemaic elites and later served in Roman-era religious rites, offers a tangible connection to a pivotal era when Egyptian power waned and Roman influence ascended. The wreck lies near the submerged island of Antirhodos, once home to a Temple of Isis that was likely destroyed by an earthquake around A.D. 50. Goddio's team found several timbers from a wooden barge approximately 90 feet long, though the original vessel is estimated to have been about 115 feet long and 22 feet wide. Based on its size, location and historical records, Goddio posits it is a thalamagos—a Greek term meaning "cabin carrier" used to describe the floating palaces of the Ptolemaic period (304 to 30 B.C.). "This intriguing shipwreck could have been used along the canals in Alexandria as Strabo described," Goddio said in a statement, referencing the ancient geographer. No physical remains of such a ceremonial pleasure vessel have been found before, though they are documented in ancient texts and art. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the Ptolemaic dynasty, founded by one of Alexander the Great's generals, was known for its decadence and synthesis of Greek and Egyptian cultures. Giant pleasure barges were a hallmark of this elite lifestyle, used for leisurely voyages through the Nile Delta's waterways. The first-century B.C. geographer Strabo painted a vivid picture of their use: "They hold feasts in cabin-boats in which they enter the thick of the cyami [Egyptian lotuses] and the shade of the leaves." These vessels, often lavishly decorated and propelled by oarsmen, were mobile venues for entertainment and display, symbolizing the wealth and power of the ruling class. The discovery provides archaeologists with a rare chance to study the actual construction of a vessel type previously known only from descriptions.

A "spectacular" find awaits confirmation

While the discovery has generated significant excitement, researchers caution that the investigation is in its earliest stages. Independent experts highlight the need for further study to confirm the barge's exact identity and function. "It is a spectacular find," said Timmy Gambin, a maritime archaeologist at the University of Malta who was not involved in the discovery. However, he noted, "it has not yet been scientifically determined if the vessel is actually a thalamagos... It is yet early days to determine exactly what the vessel was used for." The coming years of meticulous analysis of the wood, construction techniques and associated artifacts will be crucial in verifying these initial hypotheses. The unearthing of this ancient barge is more than a maritime discovery; it is a window into a world of profound transformation. As archaeologists carefully piece together its story, the vessel serves as a silent witness to the final days of pharaonic splendor under the Ptolemies and its complex assimilation into the expanding Roman Empire. Each preserved timber holds the potential to deepen our understanding of the confluence of luxury, religion and power in one of the ancient world's greatest capitals. Watch the video below that talks about archaeological efforts around South America's Lake Titicaca. This video is from the Europechannel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: LiveScience.com FranckGoddio.org BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
Copy