MARINA, Egypt – These days, it is slump of comfort holiday homes where Egypt’s prosperous play on beaches of Mediterranean coast. Although 2,000 years ago, it was a prosperous port city of Greco-Roman empire, the merchants become rich through the trade of olive and wheat.

The prehistoric city, well-known as Antiphrae or Leukaspis, was buried for centuries subsequent to destroy by a tsunami in 4^th century which shocked the whole region.

More of late, it was almost buried under modern Marina resort in a development rage which turned the coast into a ‘Summer Playground’ for Egypt’s choice.

Almost 25 years past its detection, the Egyptian authorities are now planning to open ancient Leukaspis’ villas, tombs, and city streets for visitors. This ancient city is an exceptional model for Classical era city, mainly identified for its Paranoiac temples and pyramids.

The two Marinas have their histories inextricably associated with each other. When Chinese engineers started cutting the sandy coast in 1986, for building roads for new resort, they found the ancient houses and tombs of the town which was originated from second century B.C.

Around 200 acres of land were reserved for archaeology, whereas in all other places along coast up developed as Egyptians holiday villages for escaping hot summer heat of interiors for Mediterranean’s cool winds.

The prehistoric city has given its secrets in much steady fashion to a Polish archaeologists’ team of digging the site in 1990s.

Merchants resided in stylish two-story villas situated alongside circuitousness streets and pillared courtyards sided by prayer and living rooms.

Rainwater composed from top ran down unique voided out pillars in channels under floor which led to family cisterns. Waste moved out through a refined sewer system.

At town center, where two central streets traverse, was the economic and social heart of city and it can still be found leftovers of basilica and one hall for public procedures which became a church subsequent to spread of Christianity across Roman Empire.

The city had gained most of its livelihood from the sea. It started as way station in coastal trade connecting Libya and Egypt to the west. Later on, it started selling overseas goods from its adjacent farms overseas, mainly to the Crete Island, just about 480 kilometers (300 miles) away.

Leukaspis was mainly ruined when an immense earthquake in 365 A.D. near Crete started a tsunami wave which also shocked the Alexandria. In the following centuries, hard economic times and failing Roman Empire intended that most of the settlements beside the coast vanished.

Now, the leftovers of port are lost. In late 1990s, one fake lagoon was built, encircled by summer homes meant for apex government officials.

Though, Egyptian government attention in this site increased in last few years, part of transformed spotlight on developing country’s Classical past. Dobrowlska had returned as part of USAID project in 2005 to revolve ancient Marina to open air tourist’s museum.

It might not have come to better time for prehistoric Marina, which had attracted envious looks from real estate makers.

Still, much has to be done for achieving government’s goal to open this site in mid-September, as prehistoric sections of pottery still waste ground as well as bones lie open for their tombs.