The centre was created in 1990 with the aim of retracing the face and topography of the capital of the Ptolemies, of Alexander (332 BC) and of Cleopatra (30 BC). The most highly publicised discovery has been that of the remains of the Alexandria lighthouse. The dream of its uncovering almost remained unrealised: in 1993, concrete screed was due to be tipped into the sea at the extreme west of the bay at the foot of Qaitbay Fort in order to strengthen its foundations. For the Alexandrian Study Centre it was therefore a race against time when its team hauled a red granite bust out of the waters of the Mediterranean. It was the first piece rescued from the water and many others were to follow – thousands of columns, capitols, fragments of an obelisk dating from the reign of Sethi I and colossal statues amongst others. Elsewhere in Alexandria, the centre has also brought a necropolis and magnificent mosaics to light. The City of Cleopatra is bit by bit emerging from the earth.
