Egypt uncovers remains of residential,commercial suburb at Al-Shatbi area in Alexandria

CAIRO - 27 August 2021: Remains of a residential and commercial suburb which was located outside the walls of Egypt’s capital city during  Graeco-Roman era were discovered at the Al-Shatbi area in Alexandria by Egyptian archaeological mission.

The mission succeeded to discover 40 water wells and cisterns,clay amphoras, vessels, lamps, fishing instruments such as fishing nets, in addition to remains of marble statues of deities, emperors and warriors.

A number of ovens, good stores and the remains of a shrine along with 700 coins were also uncovered.

During Graeco-Roman era this place was used mainly by travellers, visitors and merchants.

This area housed rest houses for visitors to stay until receiving approval to enter the capital city as well as storehouses for merchants to put their goods and check them to decide the amount of taxes due.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri announced that this  discovery revealed the multiple activities that took place at the external walls of the capital city during the Graeco-Roman era.

Waziry further added that  the newly uncovered subrub was used since the second century BC to the fourth century AD.

Head of the ancient Egyptian Sector Ayman Ashmawy said that these newly uncovered artifacts revealed that the discovered subrub had a market that housed workshops for the manufacturing of these statues and fishing instruments.

Ashmawy added that the subrub served as a hub for fishermen during Greco-Roman era because the majority of the discivered statues belongs to those related to fishing.