Relics of Persian fleet found off Mt. Athos

Significant discoveries that may point to the location of a sunken fleet led by the Persian general Mardonio have been made by an underwater archaeological team working at the eastern side of the Mt Athos peninsula in October, organized by the Underwater Antiquities Ephorate in cooperation with the Canadian Archaeological Institute and the Greek Center for Marine Research.

Particularly encouraging was the discovery of a metal object identified as the point to the bottom of a spear, a rare find in the sea.

The exploration, led by the ephorate’s director Ekaterini Dellaporta and Professor Shelley Wachsmann of Texas University, provided many positive results that will ensure its continuation next season with permission from the Culture Ministry.

The goal was to discover the Persian fleet of some 300 ships that sank during a storm near Mt Athos during Darius’ first attempt to invade Greece in 493 BC.

Posted by David on December 14, 2003 4:31 PM