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CNN Live At Daybreak

Ancient City Found off Egyptian Coast

Aired June 08, 2001 - 07:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: From the depths of the Mediterranean, an amazing discovery that really does seem like a kind of Atlantis.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Allard Beutel has the story of the sunken city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLARD BEUTEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ancient sunken city four miles off the coast of Egypt is beginning to reveal some of its hidden history. About 1,200 years ago, an earthquake sent the port city of Herakleion and two neighboring towns to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.

Now archaeologists are showing off some of their discoveries, including a giant stone tablet, one of the largest ever found. It bears Greek and hieroglyphic inscriptions that haven't been deciphered yet. The researchers say their findings indicate Herakleion was a key commerce center for ancient Egypt.

FRANCK GODDIO, LEAD ARCHAEOLOGIST: It was a very important city. The entrance was to Egypt during the later pharaohs' dynasty.

BEUTEL: Among the other findings displayed were three large statues. One is an Egyptian river god. The others are an unidentified pharaoh and his queen.

After Herakleion was destroyed, the city became lost in history, known only in Greek stories and legends. That is, until an international team of archaeologists located it last year. The researchers say houses, temples, the port infrastructure, and a coliseum remain amazingly well preserved. They say as many as 20,000 items remain on the sea floor.

DIETRICH WILDUNG, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BERLIN: We knew a little bit about the city of Herakleion, but all this information came from ancient texts. There was no archaeological proof where this city was located. This is a great success.

BEUTEL: The researchers say after the stone tablets and statues have been cleaned up, they'll be sent on an international tour, by the end of 2003.

Allard Beutel, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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