AI – ‘Here are some prominent examples of lost port cities from antiquity:

• Thonis-Heracleion, Egypt: Situated at the mouth of the Nile Delta, Thonis-Heracleion served as a vital trading hub for goods traveling between Egypt and the Greek world. It was a city of immense wealth and religious significance, housing a magnificent temple to the god Amun. However, it abruptly sank beneath the Mediterranean Sea around 1,200 years ago, likely due to a combination of earthquakes, tsunamis, and soil liquefaction. Archaeologists rediscovered the city in the late 20th century and have since uncovered numerous artifacts, including colossal statues, temples, and shipwrecks.
• Canopus, Egypt: Another important Egyptian port city located in the Nile Delta near Alexandria, Canopus was a center for the worship of the god Serapis and attracted pilgrims from across the ancient world. Like Thonis-Heracleion, it was submerged by rising sea levels and seismic activity. Franck Goddio’s team located the ruins of Canopus in 1999.
• Pavlopetri, Greece: Located off the coast of southern Laconia, Pavlopetri is considered the oldest submerged archaeological town site in the world, dating back about 5,000 years. This Bronze Age city was a flourishing trading port that likely sank due to earthquakes and sea-level changes.
• Port Royal, Jamaica: A notorious 17th-century port city famed for its connection to pirates, Port Royal was largely submerged by an earthquake and tsunami in 1692. Archaeological excavations have provided remarkable insights into the lives of the city’s inhabitants and its maritime history.
• Baiae, Italy: Known as the “Las Vegas of the Roman Empire,” Baiae was a luxurious seaside resort town near Naples, frequented by Roman elites. It gradually succumbed to subsidence caused by volcanic activity and is now an underwater archaeological park featuring well-preserved villas and temples.
• Atlit-Yam, Israel: Discovered off the coast of Haifa, Atlit-Yam is a submerged Neolithic settlement dating back approximately 8,000 years. Its inhabitants were farmers and fishermen, and the site includes fascinating features like a circle of upright stones resembling Stonehenge. The village was abandoned and eventually submerged by the encroaching Mediterranean Sea.
• Phanagoria, Russia: Founded by Ionian Greeks around 540 BC, Phanagoria was a wealthy trading port on the Black Sea and the eastern capital of the Bosporan Kingdom. Parts of the city were flooded due to seismic activity and mudflows.
• Pompeii, Italy: Although not directly on the coast, Pompeii was a port city connected to the sea via the Sarno River. It was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and rediscovered in the 18th century. While not submerged, the eruption extended the coastline significantly, making the ancient port location further inland.
• Herculaneum, Italy: A wealthy Roman town and resort located on a promontory near the sea, Herculaneum was also buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Its remains are exceptionally well-preserved, including organic materials like wood and food, due to the pyroclastic flows that covered it. Like Pompeii, the coastline was extended by the eruption, moving the waterfront further away from the ancient town. 

These lost cities provide invaluable insights into the history, culture, and daily life of ancient civilizations. Their submergence, often caused by natural disasters or environmental changes, highlights the dynamic nature of coastal environments and the vulnerability of human settlements to the forces of nature.’