Egyptian Authorities Arrest Two People Who Tried To Steal Hundreds Of Ancient Artifacts From The Bottom Of The Sea

Hundreds of artifacts confiscated by Egyptian authorities from the two suspects. (Source: Egyptian Ministry of Home Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Egyptian authorities arrested two men suspected of trying to steal hundreds of ancient artifacts from the seabed at the end of last month, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The two men took hundreds of artifacts from the seabed of Abu Qir Bay, near the port city of Alexandria, the ministry said.

When confronted by authorities, the men said they had planned to trade the items, according to the ministry, as reported by CNN January 25.

Furthermore, it was explained that the two men obtained all antiques by diving to the seabed.

About 448 objects were taken by the men, the ministry's statement said, including 305 coins, 53 statues, 41 axes, 14 bronze eclipses, 12 spears, and three statues' heads.

These items date back to the Ancient Greek and Roman eras, a period lasting about 900 years, from around 500 BC to 400 AD.

Photos released by Egypt's Ministry of Home Affairs showed the items after being confiscated.

The artifact, which turned greenish blue due to the coating ofpatina, depicts objects and people from its original era.

Some statues depict ancient soldiers in uniform, while others look like people wrapped in cloth.

Meanwhile, the coins were also elaborately engraved, featuring depictions of animals including lions, elephants, turtles, dolphins, and sickles. Two coins appear to show Pegasus's eternal winging horse from Greek mythology.