Ancient pleasure boat found off Alexandria coast

An ancient Egyptian pleasure boat that matches a description by the first-century Greek historian Strabo has been discovered off the coast of Alexandria, to the excitement of archaeologists.

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With its palaces, temples and the 130 metre-high Pharos lighthouse — one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - Alexandria had been one of the most magnificent cities in antiquity. The pleasure boat, which dates from the first half of the first century AD, was 35 metres long and constructed to hold a central pavilion with a luxuriously decorated cabin.

It was discovered off the submerged island of Anti-rhodos, which was part of ancient Alexandria’s Portus Magnus (great port).