New excavations along Egypt’s north-western coast, some 300 kilometres from Cairo, have unearthed 18 tombs dating to the Ptolemaic and Roman eras at the site of Marina El Alamein, the ancient city of Leukaspis. The discovery, announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, adds significant detail to our understanding of funerary practices in the Hellenistic Mediterranean.
Since the site was first identified in 1986, a total of 44 tombs have now been documented there. The latest campaign revealed 11 hypogeal complexes carved directly into the rock and seven above-ground structures built from limestone blocks, several of which remained intact under their original coverings.
Ritual Gold Foils and the 'Golden Tongue'
Among the most striking finds are 24 thin gold foils recovered from the mouths of the deceased. This is the ancient custom of the 'golden tongue', a magical-religious practice widespread in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, intended to enable the dead to speak with the deities of the underworld. The persistence of traditional Egyptian beliefs is further underscored by a gold amulet depicting the Eye of Horus.
The excavations also yielded a rich collection of artefacts: oil lamps, amphorae, perfectly preserved ceramic vessels, basins, and small stone altars. A large granite sarcophagus, two and a half metres long, still containing human remains, was also uncovered.
Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy emphasised that this discovery confirms the historical centrality of Leukaspis, a site mentioned by the geographer Strabo. Located around a hundred kilometres from Alexandria, Leukaspis was a strategic hub for commercial and cultural exchanges between Egypt and the rest of the Mediterranean. Today it stands as one of the best-preserved coastal settlements from the classical period in the country.
The finds resonate with broader archaeological work across the Mediterranean, such as the Bronze Chariot Discovery Rewrites Tartessian Trade Networks in Ancient Spain, which similarly sheds light on ancient trade and cultural exchange. The golden tongue amulets also echo practices seen in other parts of the Hellenistic world, where gold was used in funerary contexts to ensure safe passage for the soul.
For European readers, this discovery underscores the deep interconnectedness of the ancient Mediterranean world. The Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 305 to 30 BCE, was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, and maintained close ties with Greece and Rome. The Roman period that followed saw Egypt become a vital province of the empire, supplying grain and other goods to the city of Rome.
The site of Marina El Alamein, with its well-preserved structures and rich burial goods, offers a unique window into this cosmopolitan era. As archaeologists continue to excavate, further insights into the daily life, trade networks, and religious beliefs of the people who lived and died there are expected to emerge.
