Discovery at Marina Alamein Reveals Hellenistic‑Roman Burial Practices
Archaeologists working on Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast announced a series of finds at the ancient port city of Marina Alamein. The team, led by Dr. Eman Abdel Khaleq, mission commander and area manager, uncovered a series of graves, amulets, and architectural elements that illuminate the city’s multicultural character during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Excavation Context
Marina Alamein lies roughly 160 kilometres (about 100 miles) west of Alexandria and served as a key Mediterranean hub linking Egypt to the wider ancient world. Systematic excavations at the site began in 1986; to date, 44 graves have been documented. The most recent season added 18 previously unknown burial shafts, raising the total count and offering fresh material for study.
Golden Tongues and Funerary Amulets
Among the most striking artifacts are 24 thin gold sheets placed over the mouths of several deceased individuals. Commonly referred to as “golden tongues,” these pieces were intended to enable the dead to speak in the afterlife and to petition the gods—a belief attested in Egyptian funerary texts and confirmed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
In addition to the golden tongues, the team recovered:
- A gold Eye of Horus amulet, a symbol of protection and healing that remained popular despite the influx of Greco‑Roman cults.
- A small plaster figure of Harpocrates, the deity of childhood and silence, reflecting the persistence of Egyptian iconography.
- Fragments of ceramics, limestone altars, glass vessels, and various funerary sculptures.
- An incomplete marble monument believed to depict the Greek goddess Aphrodite, illustrating the blend of local and imported artistic traditions.
Architectural Finds: Granite Coffin and Sculptures
The excavation also yielded a 2.5‑metre‑long granite sarcophagus complete with its original lid. Inside, researchers found skeletal remains that are currently undergoing osteological analysis to determine age, sex, and possible health conditions.
Other stone elements include limestone altars likely used for offering rituals and a series of sculptural fragments that point to both Egyptian and Greco‑Roman workshop influences.
Cultural Synthesis and Significance
The assemblage from Marina Alamein exemplifies the cultural exchange that characterized the city during the Hellenistic and Roman eras. Egyptian religious motifs—such as the Eye of Horus and the concept of the golden tongue—co‑exist with Greek deities like Aphrodite and Roman‑style funerary architecture. This blending suggests that the port’s inhabitants maintained traditional beliefs while adopting new artistic and ideological trends from across the Mediterranean.
According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the discoveries “expand our understanding of the city’s cosmopolitan history and support ambitions to transform the site into one of Egypt’s most important archaeological and cultural tourist attractions.”
Implications for Heritage and Tourism
Officials highlight that the continued investigation of Marina Alamein could bolster heritage tourism by showcasing a less‑known facet of Egypt’s past—one where African, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures intersected. Plans are underway to improve site accessibility, develop interpretive signage, and integrate the finds into regional museum exhibitions.
Ongoing analysis of the skeletal remains, metallurgical study of the gold amulets, and contextual dating of the pottery will further refine the chronology of the burials and deepen insight into the daily lives and spiritual practices of Marina Alamein’s ancient residents.
