A bronze seal ring engraved with the Lighthouse of Alexandria has been discovered in the sunken island of Antirhodos, offering new insights into ancient architecture.
Bronze seal ring found in sunken Antirhodos
A bronze seal ring engraved with the Lighthouse of Alexandria has been discovered in the sunken island of Antirhodos, located in the ancient port of Alexandria. The European Institute of Underwater Archaeology announced the find on October 7, 2026, after recovering the ring during dives in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities. First depiction of lighthouse on a ring
According to Egyptian authorities, this is the first known depiction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria engraved on a ring of this type. The ring was found on the site of a palace in the royal quarter of the port, suggesting its connection to the elite or administrative functions of the time. Engraving matches historical descriptions
The engraving on the ring shows a multi-level tower, similar to images found on coins from the second century AD. This find highlights the potential of underwater archaeology to uncover new information in the sunken harbor, where ancient texts may no longer be sufficient to describe the lighthouse’s appearance. Possible administrative link to lighthouse
Franck Goddio, who leads the excavations, suggested that the palace where the ring was found may have housed administrative offices linked to the operation of the lighthouse. The Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, and his deputy Ahmed Rehema inspected the ring aboard the research vessel. Lighthouse’s history and structure
Completed around 280 BCE under Ptolemy II, the lighthouse stood on the island of Pharos to guide ships into the harbor. It was over 100 meters tall, equivalent to a thirty-story building, and lasted nearly 1,600 years before earthquakes reduced it to ruins during the Middle Ages. Historical context of the engraving
Until this ring, the appearance of the building mainly relied on texts and a few coins. The engraving shows a multi-level tower consistent with the tiered silhouette that historians attributed to the lighthouse. The Greek geographer Strabo, who visited Egypt between 29 and 25 BCE, had also described the palace of Antirhodos where the ring was recently recovered. Other discoveries in the area
The site continues to yield discoveries, including a 25-meter Ptolemaic galley, ritual silver instruments, gold jewelry, and a quartz sphinx bearing the seal of Ramses II. This season, dives focused on four sectors of the eastern port, from the Temple of Isis to the Timonium, the palace attributed to Mark Antony, passing through the remains of an obelisk. Connection to Cleopatra and future exploration
The island of Antirhodos was part of the royal quarters frequented by Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. However, the exploration will not stop there. Once the eastern port is completed, the team will head to the Aboukir Bay, where they previously located the sunken city of Thonis-Heracleion.
