Beneath the sediment of Alexandria’s eastern harbour, a ghost from the era of the Ptolemies has finally materialized. Archaeologists have unearthed a first-century pleasure boat, a discovery that transforms ancient myths of Nile-side decadence into tangible history.

For centuries, historians relied on the vivid, sometimes scandalous writings of the Greek geographer Strabo to imagine the floating palaces of ancient Egypt. Now, the discovery of this 35-meter barge offers the first physical proof that these vessels were not merely literary exaggerations, but sophisticated feats of African engineering.

A Floating Palace Revealed

The vessel was identified by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), led by the renowned maritime archaeologist Franck Goddio. Buried off the submerged island of Antirhodos—once part of Alexandria’s Portus Magnus—the ship dates back to the first half of the first century.

To put the vessel's scale into perspective for the local reader, at 35 meters long and 7 meters wide, it rivals the length of the smaller ferries operating at the Likoni crossing, though designed for intimate opulence rather than mass transport. The structure suggests it was built to support a heavy central pavilion, likely a luxuriously decorated cabin for royal excursions.

"It is extremely exciting because it is the first time ever that such a boat has been discovered in Egypt," Goddio told The Guardian. He noted that while such vessels appear in iconography—such as the famous Palestrina mosaic depicting noblemen hunting hippopotamuses—an actual hull had never been found until now.

Echoes of 'Extreme Licentiousness'

The find validates the accounts of Strabo, who visited Alexandria around 29-25 BC. His records describe a city of wealth and revelry, where the elite took to the water for days of unrestrained celebration.

Strabo wrote of these excursions with a mix of awe and judgment:

• The Setting: "These vessels are luxuriously fitted out and used by the royal court for excursions."
• The Atmosphere: "Every day and every night is crowded with people on the boats who play the flute and dance without restraint and with extreme licentiousness."

The discovery adds a layer of depth to our understanding of North African heritage, showcasing a society that prioritized leisure and architectural beauty alongside military and agricultural prowess.

Engineering the Ancient World

The preservation of the ship's timbers has allowed experts to analyze its construction. The breadth of the hull suggests it would have required more than 20 rowers to propel the heavy, flat-bottomed barge through the canals and harbours of the ancient capital.

While the Palestrina mosaic depicts a smaller boat of perhaps 15 meters, this discovery proves that the Egyptians were building pleasure craft on a much grander scale. It serves as a reminder of the rich maritime history that spans the continent, from the dhows of the Swahili coast to the royal barges of the Mediterranean.

As excavation continues, this vessel stands as a silent witness to the golden age of Alexandria—a time when the city was not just a center of knowledge, but a playground for the ancient world's most powerful figures.