Recent excavations at Kom el-Nugus, west of Alexandria, Egypt, are reshaping what we know about the origins of ancient Alexandria. Beneath the remains of a Hellenistic city dating to the time of Alexander the Great, archaeologists have uncovered a much older Egyptian settlement—one that predates the arrival of the Macedonian conqueror by over a millennium.
A City Hidden Beneath the Figs
Kom el-Nugus, nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariout, has long been known for its fig trees rather than its archaeological treasures. That has now changed.
In a surprising turn of events, excavators unearthed a 3,500-year-old Egyptian settlement, dating back to the New Kingdom—the golden age of ancient Egypt, which saw the reigns of legendary pharaohs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II. It appears the later Greek city was built directly atop the ruins of this earlier settlement, likely after the Egyptians regained independence from Persian rule.
A Royal Name in a Wine Jar
Among the most significant finds was an amphora bearing the name Meritaten, daughter of the infamous Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti. Dated to the 18th Dynasty (1550–1292 BC), this amphora not only ties the site to Egypt's royal lineage but also sheds light on the settlement's main industry: winemaking. Nearby, archaeologists uncovered grape presses—further proof that the wine produced here may have been intended for royal consumption.
The discovery also revives interest in Akhenaten, the radical pharaoh who introduced monotheism and disrupted Egypt’s traditional polytheistic beliefs. After his death, his reign was so controversial that his statues and inscriptions were destroyed in an effort to erase his memory. Even his mummy remains unaccounted for. His son, Tutankhamun, later restored the traditional pantheon.
A Street Through Time
Other artifacts point to continued activity at the site well beyond the 18th Dynasty. Fragments of small shrines from the 19th and 20th Dynasties—the era of the Ramesside pharaohs—were found, including a stela inscribed with the cartouches of Seti II. In one pit, archaeologists uncovered five tiny ceramic bowls, while the ruins of buildings—made from sun-dried mudbrick—lined both sides of a street equipped with a water drainage system, designed to prevent structural collapse from moisture.
That street had even been rebuilt, indicating the settlement was in use for an extended period. According to researchers, the phased reconstruction of the site suggests it may have been a seasonal or temporary settlement, possibly functioning as a military outpost.
This groundbreaking discovery adds a rich new layer to the story of Alexandria, revealing how ancient Egyptian life persisted and evolved even as foreign empires rose and fell above its ruins.
