Authorities have arrested two men for an attempt to steal hundreds of ancient artifacts from the bottom of the sea, the country’s interior ministry.
The use of the word “theft” has been debated, given their location. But Egyptian legislation specifically says that whatever is found under the earth or sea does indeed belong to Egypt.
They found the artifacts diving on the sea floor of Abu Qir Bay, near Alexandria’s port.
They admitted to hoping to traffic them, and said that all 448 were from the sea bed: 305 coins, 53 statues, 41 axes, 14 bronze cups, 12 spears, and three statue heads, reports CNN.
The coins are intricately covered with depictions of lions, elephants, turtles, dolphins, scorpions and even Pegasus. Some statues depict ancient soldiers in uniform, others — people draped in fabric. All are turned turquoise by patina. Reporting states that items date back to Greek and Roman Antiquity. But because of the artificial look of corrosions, internet commentators have speculated that the are faux, specifically dumped in the ocean in order to snag scammers — or simple buyers. Inaccuracies, such as the Venus de Milo replicas missing their arms (a loss attested after the 1820s, and not to antiquity) support this theory. What’s more, they seem to be miniatures of famous statues.
