5. 10. 2021 Ancient city that was swept away by the Tsunami

It was known as Naples. Today, however, this ancient Roman city no longer exists. It was destroyed by a tsunami about 1,700 years ago. Archaeologists found its remains four years ago.

According to experts, the city was even the centre of the Roman Empire in its time. In addition to raw fish, they also produced garum. It was a fish sauce made from fermented fish that originated in ancient Greece. It was one of the most popular ingredients in ancient Rome, just as ketchup is nowadays. In fact, its use is required in a large number of recipes of the time.

Archaeologists have found the remains of the city of Naples underwater. Even entire streets, but also monuments, and just a few jars that were used to make the aforementioned fish sauce. According to the head of the archaeological team, Mounir Fantar, this is a very important discovery confirming the existence and importance of the city of Naples.

It was destroyed exactly on 21 July 365 AD when a huge tsunami engulfed it. It was the end of the Roman Empire. A very strong earthquake struck off Crete and tsunamis devastated the coasts of Greece, Cyprus, Sicily, Spain and North Africa.

Archaeologists have been searching for the large part of the city that ended up underwater since 2010, and only reached it seven years later, when the weather was optimal. Information about the city has survived thanks to the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus, who wrote about its existence and described the aforementioned disaster.

The city of Naples was long thought to be lost. The discovery is the result of the work of a Tunisian-Italian team. The expedition managed to photograph streets, statues and about a hundred cisterns. The ruins are located near the coastal town of Nabeul in the northeast. They cover an area of over twenty hectares.

The tsunami also ended the life of ancient Olympia, the site of the most famous games of ancient times, more than fifteen centuries ago. They were the inspiration for the great sporting events of today. Around 551, a devastating wave at least 30 metres high hit the west coast of Greece.

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