The Daily Populous Wednesday December 25th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by cnn.com and submitted by AudibleNod

Egyptian authorities have arrested two men for attempting to steal hundreds of ancient artifacts from the bottom of the sea, the country’s interior ministry said in a Monday statement.

The men took the artifacts from the sea floor of Abu Qir Bay, near the port city of Alexandria, the ministry said. When confronted by authorities, the men said that had planned to traffic the items, according to the ministry. The men obtained all of the antiquities by diving to the bottom of the sea, it said.

Some 448 objects were taken by the men, the ministry statement said, including 305 coins, 53 statues, 41 axes, 14 bronze cups, 12 spears, and three statue heads.

The items date back to Greek and Roman Antiquity, a period that lasted about 900 years, from around 500 BCE to 400 CE.

Egyptian authorities said that nearly 450 objects had been seized, including ancient coins and statue heads. Egyptian Interior Ministry

Photographs released by Egypt’s interior ministry show the items after they were seized.

The artifacts, turned turquoise by layers of patina, depict objects and people from the era they are from. Some statues depict ancient soldiers in uniform, while others appear to be people draped in fabric.

The coins are also intricately carved, featuring depictions of animals including lions, elephants, turtles, dolphins, and scorpions. Two coins appear to show the immortal winged horse Pegasus from Greek mythology.

IThinkIKnowThings on December 25th, 2024 at 15:29 UTC »

Came here to press X to doubt and see others have already done the same. Very much looks like replicas. The Venus de Milos were the dead giveaway. They all have their arms missing in the same way, but the arms likely weren't missing yet in that period of antiquity. And if they were, people would just consider the statue as trash or at least needing refurbishment. They wouldn't glorify it by making mini tourist versions like we do today.

coolaswhitebread on December 25th, 2024 at 12:56 UTC »

Uh. Archaeology PhD student. Weird group of thing in that picture. I doubt that everything (or more likely anything) came from the bottom of the sea ... I mean, there's literally 5 mini Venus de Milos in this picture. I'm not a Greek/Roman sculpture person, but I recognize 2-3 more groupings in the picture that are literally just mini versions of famous statues. Everything here also has the same impeccable copper 'corrosion' on it. Perhaps there was a bust, but they didn't want to show pictures of the actual objects that were taken? In any case, something fishy here.

Antique-Resort6160 on December 25th, 2024 at 12:52 UTC »

Honestly, this looks like scammers. There are so many identical artifacts, no marine life entrusted, all identical patina, very ornate items in perfect condition. Looks like something they do here in Philippines, buy antique replicas on Alibaba and put them in the ocean for a year or so, then sell the "shipwreck treasure" for a big profit.

If you look on Alibaba you probably find these items, or they're made locally.