Egypt in deep water with sunken treasures plan

[Adsos Letter]

Source: The Age.com
Jack Shenker

SOME of the world's most exciting sunken treasures could soon be on view after Egypt confirmed plans to build a giant underwater museum in the Mediterranean.

But as preparation begins on the site of Cleopatra's palace in Alexandria, funding and technical problems are proving as divisive and controversial as the famed queen herself.

Ancient Alexandria was one of the world's great centres of civilisation, and since excavations in the eastern harbour began in 1994, divers have unearthed thousands of historical objects. These have included 26 sphinxes, vast granite blocks weighing up to 56 tonnes each, and even pieces of what is believed to be the Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Remnants of Queen Cleopatra's palace complex are also submerged, after the island on which it stood fell victim to earthquakes in the 5th century.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/egypt-in-deep-water-with-sunken-treasures-plan-20090221-8e5h.html?page=1

[myrna minx]

1. If only we could recover the jewels that were contained in the lost library

of Alexandria, which, of course would not be a part of the recovered wonders of this underwater site. *Sigh* I did enjoy the book, "The Vanished Library" that allowed me to dream...

[Confusious]

2. Sorry, they were probably destoryed in the fire

That destroyed the library. Set by christian fanatics, of course.

[myrna minx]

3. "The Vanished Library" was such a wonderful read. We can only

imagine what was in that amazing depository of learning. What a tragedy...

[Chulanowa]

4. It went through a series of fires

First by the Romans, then by Romans again, then by the Christians, and then invading Muslims finished hte job... But apparently kept a rather nice selection of what was left for themselves.

On the bright side, it's surmised that the vast majority of the library's body was tax and trade documents. The Egyptians had to put them all somewhere after all. While historically interesting, these aren't exactly great lost treasures of mankind.

[applegrove]

5. Like that scene in The Name of the Rose when the library burns..