The fascination with the search for Atlantis has persisted for centuries. The most detailed descriptions of this ghost city, which supposedly sank due to an earthquake and flood around 9500 B.C., were shared by the Greek philosopher Plato in 360 B.C. Since then, the legend of Atlantis has kept researchers and treasure hunters on their toes. In the 19th century, the first suggestions emerged that the legend of Atlantis might be based on a true story. Yet, the city remains lost to this day.
Meanwhile, archaeologists have discovered other sunken settlements in various corners of our planet. The British publication Daily Mail recalled some of the most famous ghost towns.
Heracleion (Thonis), Egypt
This small but wealthy city was considered the most important port of ancient Egypt until Alexander the Great founded Alexandria in 331 B.C.
According to scientists, Heracleion, or Thonis, sank at the end of the 8th century B.C. due to an earthquake triggered by a powerful tsunami.
The ruins of the sunken city were first discovered in 2000 by a team led by French archaeologist Franck Goddio. The port lies at a depth of 10 meters in the Abu Qir Bay, about 6 kilometers from the shore.
Archaeologists have found around 14,000 various artifacts, including gold items. Researchers also stumbled upon 64 ships, a temple complex with remnants of statues and a monumental stele, as well as many other rare objects.
Rungholt, Germany
Last year, underwater archaeologists mapped the lost settlement of Rungholt, often referred to as the German Atlantis. In ancient times, it was a thriving trading center in North Frisia, located in the Danish duchy of Schleswig.
The city was submerged under the North Sea due to a storm from January 15 to 16, 1362. At the time of the disaster, about 3,000 people lived in Rungholt. According to legend, the city was cursed and punished by Heaven for the drunken revelry and immorality of its inhabitants.
Since then, Rungholt has rested 40 meters deep beneath muddy shallows.
Atlit-Yam, Israel
Atlit-Yam, located off the coast of Israel, is one of the oldest and largest submerged settlements ever discovered.
The ruins found in the Mediterranean Sea, at a depth of 8-12 meters, date back to the seventh millennium B.C. They cover an area of over 40,000 square meters.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of rectangular houses, a mysterious stone circle, numerous burials, including some within the dwellings, animal remains, stone tools, and weapons.
According to scientists, Atlit-Yam ended up underwater due to rising sea levels.
Pavlopetri, Greece
Some romantic seekers have linked the legend of Atlantis to the ancient Greek city of Pavlopetri (meaning “Paul’s Stone”).
A team led by archaeologist Nicholas Flemming discovered the ruins of the city in 1967. They sprawl over an area of more than 46,000 square meters.
Researchers have established that Pavlopetri was founded around 2800 B.C. and sank in 1000 B.C. due to three consecutive earthquakes.
In the submerged Pavlopetri, researchers found residential quarters, market squares, workshops, gardens, and neatly laid-out streets. It was one of the first cities where builders adhered to a clear urban plan.
Port Royal, Jamaica
The port city of Port Royal in Jamaica was once considered a paradise for pirates and rogues. The Spanish colonized it in 1494.
Built on a sandy spit, the city was infamous for its numerous dens of vice, gambling houses, and taverns. It was even dubbed the “Sodom of the New World.” Despite this, many temples of various denominations were constructed here.
Historical sources indicate that in 1692, an earthquake destroyed the city, which sank in less than three minutes. The disaster claimed the lives of about 2,000 people.
Bai, Italy
The city of Bai, whose underwater ruins in the Bay of Naples attract divers from around the world, was a resort for ancient Roman aristocrats.
The first mentions of Bai, or the Cumæan Waters, date back to 178 B.C. Residences in this popular city were owned by Caesar, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.
In the 3rd-4th centuries and later, in the 7th-8th centuries, due to slow tectonic shifts, a 100-meter coastal strip with respectable buildings sank beneath the waves.
Today, an archaeological park is located here, where diving enthusiasts can admire well-preserved artifacts: mosaics, marble statues, eel-breeding ponds for Roman gourmets, and the remains of houses and baths.