A bronze signet ring depicting the Lighthouse of Alexandria was recovered from the submerged royal harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. The European Institute for Underwater Archaeology announced the discovery this month. The artifact, identified as the first known seal ring featuring the ancient wonder, was found on the island of Antirhodos, a site historically linked to Cleopatra VII, Mark Antony, and Julius Caesar.
The lighthouse, built in the third century B.C., guided ships for centuries before earthquakes destroyed it over time, with its final collapse occurring around the 14th century. While the exact age of the ring remains unclear, an October 7 release from the institute noted that its iconography resembles imagery found on some second-century A.D. coins. Officials described the find as a "perfect object," and released images showing a small, weathered ring with a rough, gold-colored surface and a faint engraving of the landmark.
Franck Goddio, who leads the excavation team and serves as president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology, highlighted the significance of the find's location. In a press release, he noted that the artifact was excavated from the legendary palace on Antirhodos, a place that once functioned as a center of power. He also described the underwater work as painstaking, requiring divers to locate, record, and lift every item.
Alexandra F. Morris, an ancient history lecturer at Queen's University Belfast, provided context on the site's potential function. She suggested that the palace, which Cleopatra may have used, could have later served as administrative offices overseeing operations at the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Morris indicated that the ring's imagery might represent this administrative connection. Although she cautioned that the artifact could date to either the Ptolemaic or Roman period, she emphasized that it highlights the lighthouse's status as a symbol of Alexandria long after its construction.
"This lighthouse has now been shrunk down to sit on someone's finger and used to sign official paperwork," Morris said. Beyond its historical value, Morris indicated that the ring offers a tangible connection to a site that is difficult for the public to access due to its submerged state. As a museum professional, she noted that replicas or models of the artifact could be used in touch-based displays, making Alexandria's underwater history more accessible to blind and low-vision visitors and general audiences.