In the underwater city of Heracleion near Alexandria, Egypt, divers recently discovered fruit baskets, more than 2,200 years old, with fruit still inside. This city, a key Mediterranean trade hub in the Hellenistic era, sank in the second century BC due to earthquakes and tidal waves. The discovery, made by French diver Franck Goddio, includes a Greek/Egyptian wooden ship, bronze treasures, and hundreds of ancient vases and amphorae. The preserved shipwreck, found under 5 meters of clay, was protected by fallen temple blocks.
Among the most astonishing finds were the fruit baskets, filled with doum fruit and grape seeds, possibly linked to funeral rites. The site, largely unexplored, has revealed Greek pottery, gold amulets, and evidence of a large ceremonial burning. These artifacts suggest the site was used for a significant event and then sealed for centuries. Goddio's discoveries, which shed light on ancient Egyptian and Greek life, will be studied and displayed in museums.