BREAKING: Lost Egyptian City Reveals Giant Statue and Mummified Priestess Beneath the Mediterranean
Alexandria, Egypt — November 2025.
In a groundbreaking underwater discovery off Egypt’s northern coast, a team of marine archaeologists has unearthed a colossal stone statue and a mummified priestess’s remains within the submerged ruins of Heracleion, the legendary “Lost City of the Pharaohs.”
The find, made at a depth of nearly 50 feet beneath the Mediterranean, is being hailed as one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries in recent decades — one that could reshape our understanding of Egypt’s ancient coastal civilizations.
A City Lost to the Sea
Heracleion, once a bustling port near the mouth of the Nile, was a major trading hub more than 2,000 years ago. Ancient texts described it as a gateway between Egypt and the Mediterranean world — until it vanished beneath the waves following a series of earthquakes and floods sometime around the 2nd century BC.
For centuries, its existence was considered myth, until French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio rediscovered its remains in 2000. Since then, ongoing excavations have revealed temples, statues, jewelry, and hundreds of sunken ships — but the newest find has stunned even veteran researchers.
The Giant Stone Head
During the latest expedition, divers working under the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities uncovered the massive stone head of what appears to be a previously unknown statue — measuring over 16 feet tall and weighing several tons. The sculpture, carved from red granite, depicts a regal face with intricate crown detail and a faint smile — features reminiscent of the Ptolemaic era.
“We believe this head once belonged to a statue that could have stood nearly 40 feet tall,” said Dr. Layla Mansour, marine archaeologist and lead researcher on the project. “The craftsmanship is extraordinary. Its sheer size suggests it was meant to impress or even intimidate. It may have represented a deity, or possibly a ruler who was deified after death.”
The find has sparked widespread debate about whether Heracleion was home to a cult of colossal monuments, possibly connected to ancient legends of “giants” or divine protectors of the delta.
The Mummified Priestess
Perhaps even more intriguing is what divers discovered nearby — a sarcophagus containing the remarkably preserved remains of a woman, wrapped in fine linen and adorned with gold amulets. Early inscriptions identify her as “The Servant of Neith”, a title linked to the goddess of war and wisdom, revered in the city’s main temple.
“The level of preservation is astonishing, considering she’s been submerged for over two millennia,” noted Dr. Omar Hassan, Egyptologist from Cairo University. “This suggests the sarcophagus was sealed within a protected chamber before the city sank — possibly during a sudden disaster.”
Artifacts found around the burial site include ceremonial vessels, papyrus fragments, and a delicate bronze mirror still intact — rare for underwater finds of this age.
Ancient Engineering or Lost Civilization?
While some media outlets have sensationalized the discovery as evidence of “giant beings,” most experts maintain the colossal artifacts are symbolic representations of divine power, not proof of mythical creatures.
Still, the site’s monumental scale continues to fuel speculation. Ancient Egyptian texts reference “cities of the gods” where humans and “great beings of the sky” once interacted — echoes that have long fascinated historians and theorists alike.
“Even if there were no giants,” said Dr. Mansour, “Heracleion remains proof that ancient engineers achieved levels of precision and scale we still struggle to comprehend today. That alone makes it extraordinary.”
A Portal to the Past
Archaeologists plan to conduct 3D mapping of the site over the coming months, using advanced sonar and photogrammetry to reconstruct the city’s layout. Early scans suggest there may be more chambers buried beneath sediment, possibly containing temple complexes or royal archives.
As for the mummified priestess, her remains are being carefully transported to the Alexandria National Restoration Center for study and conservation. Researchers hope DNA analysis will shed light on her ancestry and her role within Heracleion’s enigmatic priesthood.
“Every artifact we recover,” said Dr. Hassan, “tells a story of a city that once connected worlds — between land and sea, gods and men, myth and reality.”
With each new discovery beneath the Mediterranean waves, Heracleion rises once more — not as a legend, but as a testament to human ambition, devotion, and mystery.
