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| Montazah The sites of Montazah and Maamoura lie close together in a small bay located just east of Alexandria and the west of Abu Kir Bay. Both sites have significant evidence of maritime activity dating to between the 1st and 6th centuries A.D. The small island located on the eastern side of what is now known as Montazah Gardens may have been the site of the temple of Taposiris Parva. The temple is mentioned in the writings of Strabo (17.1.16) as being near the village of Mandara, which is still a district of Alexandria located nearby. Taposoris Parva, meaning "Small temple of Osiris" was also known for its High Priestess and pagan worshipper, Hypatia of Alexandria, the daughter of the Theon the Geometer and, the last head of the Great Alexandria Library before its destruction. Hypatia, by all historical accounts, was a beautiful and strong willed woman who was also a talented mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher in her own right. This, in a time when women were not expected to be well educated or outspoken. She would often give lessons on philosophy in the temple to her significant following, which also gained her a few enemies. She was also well connected politically, with Orestes , the civil governor, being one of her students. Her beliefs, as well as her development of a number of scientific items (Astrolabe, graduated hydrometer, and equipment for distilling water) which were identified with paganism at the time and hence, were against Christian beliefs. This raised the ire of Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria (Canonized and made a Saint in 1886 for his Christian zeal). And so in 416 it was decreed that pagan worship was banned and all temples to pagan gods were to be torn down. The Christians proceeded to destroy the Pagan Temples throughout the city, including Taposiris Parva. And so in March 416 A.D., Hypatia of Alexandria was seized and beaten, dragged into a church where her Christian abductors proceeded to scrape her skin off with either oyster shells or tiles. Afterwards her remains were burned in an area known then as Cinaron which is possibly now known as Mandara. As written by John, Bishop of Nikiu: "And thereafter a multitude of believers in God arose under the guidance of Peter the magistrate -- now this Peter was a perfect believer in all respects in Jesus Christ -- and they proceeded to seek for the pagan woman who had beguiled the people of the city and the prefect through her enchantments. And when they learnt the place where she was, they proceeded to her and found her seated on a (lofty) chair; and having made her descend they dragged her along till they brought her to the great church, named Caesarion. Now this was in the days of the fast. And they tore off her clothing and dragged her [till they brought her] through the streets of the city till she died. And they carried her to a place named Cinaron, and they burned her body with fire. And all the people surrounded the patriarch Cyril and named him 'the new Theophilus'; for he had destroyed the last remains of idolatry in the city." One of the more colorful accounts concerning the temple before its destruction states that wealthy people would travel from Alexandria to pray at the temple of Taposiris Parva, after which, they would depart the temple by boat for the city of Canopus (Located in modern day Abu Kir Bay). Canopus was known as the city where anything could be had or done. Wealthy Alexandrians would spend a couple of days or weeks having a good time in the town before departing again by boat to be returned to the pier at Taposiris Parva, where they would enter the temple and pray to the God Osiris before returning to Alexandria. Although there are no remains from the temple itself, lying just off the beach of where the temple is suspected to have stood, there lies a stone pier that extends eastwards from the shore for approximately 175-200 meters in 3-6 meters of depth. The pier dates to the 1st century A.D. and there are numerous sherds of amphorae present and at least one small stone anchor of the three-hole type. Maamoura, which is located a bit east of the Montazah area has the remains of another pier which dates from approximately the same period. Located throughout the length of this pier at a depth of 6-meters is a large variety of amphorae remains....some nearly complete! There are two major groups of stone anchors as well as an extremely large single-hole anchor located at the extreme eastern end of the pier. There have also been bronze fasteners and other bronze artifacts located in this area. All photos above are actual pictures of the Maamoura site 2008 For Divers: These two sites are easily accessible from the Montazah Watersports Center which is located at the base of the bridge leading from the mainland to the island where Taposiris Parva may once have stood. There are boats available for rent, but for these two sites a shore entry with a bit of a long surface swim will suffice. The local dive club is extremely helpful and are knowledgeable about the dive sites. The first site is known locally as the "Graeco-Roman Pier", the second site is known as "Jars" due to the numerous amphorae remains present. As with all dive sites, please take only pictures and memories....leave only bubbles. In October of 1999, the Egyptian Council of Supreme Antiquities Department of Underwater Archaeology conducted a brief survey of the Maamoura Bay area, and a more in-depth survey the following November. The DUA recorded approximately 1000 amphorae or amphorae sherds, most being identified as Capitan Type II and the locations of the stone anchors mentioned above. No other archaeological work appears to be being conducted in the area since the 1999 surveys. References: http://hypatiamaze.org/hypatia/hypwho.html http://www.newbanner.com/AboutPic/athena/raphael/nbi_hypa.html Damascius: The Life of Hypatia The History Of Hypatia, A most Impudent School-Mistress of Alexandria: Murder'd and torn to Pieces by the Populace, In Defence of Saint Cyril and the Alexandrian Clergy. From the Aspersions of Mr. Toland. By Mr. Lewis LONDON: Printed for T. Bickerton, at the Crown in Pater-Noster-Row. 1721. Price 6d. The Martyrdom of Hypatia (or The Death of the Classical World) , (Mangasar Magurditch Mangasarian, 1915) U/W Archaeology Page Home Page Ship Index Page |
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