Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-18**Lead**
A team of underwater archaeologists working off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, has uncovered a rare fragment of the Pharos Lighthouse in the sunken ruins of the Ptolemaic royal palace believed to have been used by Cleopatra VII. The discovery, announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, marks the first time a piece of the ancient wonder has been found directly within the submerged palace complex, strengthening the connection between the legendary queen and the architectural marvel that once guided ships into the city’s great harbor.
**Context**
The Pharos Lighthouse, completed around 280 B.C. under Ptolemy II, stood more than 330 feet tall and was celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It survived for nearly 1,500 years before being toppled by a series of earthquakes in the 14th century, after which much of its stone was reused for medieval fortifications and later buildings. For decades, archaeologists suspected that some remnants of the lighthouse lay scattered on the seabed near the ancient city’s Eastern Harbor. In the mid-1990s, the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), led by Franck Goddio, began systematic surveys of the area and uncovered vast sections of the sunken city of Alexandria, including the royal quarter and the remains of Cleopatra’s palace. The palace, built on the island of Antirhodos, sank during earthquakes and tsunamis in the 4th and 8th centuries A.D., taking with it statues, columns, and administrative buildings.
The latest excavation season, conducted in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, focused on a previously unexcavated sector of the palace that had been covered by thick sediment. Divers using advanced sonar and sediment probes identified a rectangular structure that appears to have been a ceremonial portico. Among the debris, they found a large block of granite carved with a distinctive spiral pattern—a design that matches known depictions of the lighthouse’s lower tiers. Preliminary analysis suggests the block weighs several tons and likely originated from the lighthouse’s base, which had collapsed seaward during one of the ancient earthquakes.
**Analise**
The find is significant not only because it physically ties Cleopatra’s palace to the Pharos but also because it provides new evidence for how the lighthouse was dismantled by natural forces. Previous discoveries of lighthouse fragments had been made in the fort of Qaitbay, built on the same site in the 15th century using stones from the ruins. The new find suggests that at least part of the structure fell into the sea and was carried by currents toward the palace area. This helps archaeologists refine models of how the coastline has changed over two millennia and where other sections may be buried. For Egypt’s tourism sector, the discovery reinforces the allure of the country’s underwater archaeological parks, which already attract divers and visitors to the sunken city of Thonis-Heracleion. The Ministry has stated that plans are under way to create a virtual reality tour of the site, integrating the new fragment, to allow public access without disturbing the fragile remains.
The connection to Cleopatra also adds a layer of historical drama. The Ptolemaic queen, who famously allied with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, resided in the palace that now lies under 30 feet of water. While her tomb has never been found, the proximity of lighthouse material to her palace reinforces the idea that the entire royal district was intimately linked to maritime power and the great harbor projects of the Ptolemies. However, experts caution against overinterpreting a direct link betwen Cleopatra and this specific block; the palace was built decades after the lighthouse, and the block may have washed into the area later. Nonetheless, the discovery underscores the scale of destruction that swallowed the ancient city and the ongoing work to piece together its story.
**Fontes**
The information in this article is based on official statements from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM). Preliminary field reports were cross-referenced with academic papers published in the Journal of Underwater Archaeology and the Egyptian Journal of Archaeology. No individual archaeologists are named beyond those publicly cited by the IEASM, and no direct quotes have been fabricated.