A new exhibition on the South Coast answers a two thousand year old question: What happened to two lost cities in Egypt? Nearly 300 artifacts make up a new one of a kind exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
The ocean literally swallowed those cities. But, an underwater archaeologist made an incredible discovery, finding the cities under the sea floor of the Mediterranean just off Egypt’s coastline.
Franck Goddio is the President of the European Institute for Undersea Archaeology, and the Director of Excavations. He says while research gave them some ideas as to where to look, it took them some time to realize they’d found an archaeological goldmine: The exhibition, called “Egypt’s Lost Cities,” highlights more than two decades of archaeological excavations.
The hundreds of pieces tell different stories about the cities claimed by the sea, from the commerce they hosted to the gods people worshipped. Melissa Giller is with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. Giller says the artifacts range in size from something which fits in your hand, to artworks as big as a tree.
Egypt’s archaeological chief says he hopes this exhibition will get American excited about his country’s history, and encourage people to come visit Dr. Mostafa Wazery is Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities in Egypt. He says there are currently nearly 300 archaeological digs underway in Egypt.
“Egypt’s Lost Cities” runs October 5th through April 12th. Admission is to the special exhibition is free with the purchase of a regular ticket to the library. But, with large crowds expected, it’s recommended that you buy advance tickets online at the Library’s website: https://bit.ly/2AM7FdW Pre-purchased tickets allow entry to the exhibition at a specific time.
