An extraordinary discovery has emerged from the submerged royal harbor of Alexandria, Egypt, where archaeologists have unearthed a rare bronze ring depicting the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Found within the ruins of a royal palace on the island of Antirhodos, a site historically linked to Cleopatra VII, Mark Antony, and Julius Caesar, this signet ring is the first of its kind ever found to feature the iconic lighthouse. While its exact age is still under investigation, the ring’s iconography suggests it may date to the 2nd century A.D., a period when the lighthouse, though partially destroyed by earthquakes, remained a potent symbol of the city. The European Institute for Underwater Archaeology, which led the painstaking excavation, highlights the ring’s significance not only as a historical artifact but also as a potential key to understanding the administration of the lighthouse and making Alexandria’s submerged history more accessible through replicas and touch-based displays, even for visually impaired visitors. This small, weathered object, once used to stamp official documents, now serves as a tangible representation of how the Lighthouse of Alexandria transcended its physical existence to become an enduring emblem of the ancient metropolis.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
