Marian el-Alamein: a small port town of the Greco-Roman Egypt

Abstract

The archaeological site of Marina el-Alamein is located in northern Egypt, about 100 km west from Alexandria. Almost thirty years of excavation works revealed the remains of an ancient city and necropolis, which flourished during the Greco-Roman period. Essential for the town and its functioning in this part of the Egyptian coast was a harbor belonging to city. Unfortunately its underwater structures have been almost entirely destroyed by construction work on a nearby tourist resort, to a point that the existence of such a harbor and its specific features cannot be confirmed. However, analyses of the high quality and decoration of local architectural remains, as well as the artifacts found on the site imply the existence of a link between the town and interregional trade and exchange networks. The text below is an attempt to review the existing remains in the port area and to show the harbor’s significant economic role for the local community inhabiting this part of the Mediterranean coast.