13 Sunken Cities That Reveal the Mysteries of the Past
Throughout history, there have been numerous cities that have been washed away due to natural disasters or changing landscapes. And although these cities do not exist it anymore, they’ve nonetheless left behind ruins of lost civilizations. Some of the popular ones include Egypt, although there are many others that we’ll be discussing in this article.
Antirhodos
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For centuries, Cleopatra’s legendary palace was thought to be lost forever—until marine archaeologists found it submerged in Alexandria’s harbor in the 1990s. Antirhodos, as the island city was known, was once a royal hub filled with grand statues, tall columns, and a temple to Isis. A massive earthquake in 365 C.E. sent it plunging into the Mediterranean, where its treasures remained hidden for over 1,600 years.
Port Royal
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Once called the “Wickedest City on Earth,” Port Royal was a notorious 17th-century pirate paradise where outlaws and gold ruled the day. But in 1692, an earthquake and tsunami swallowed half the city and sent it crashing into the sea, where the leftovers remain eerily preserved.
Dwarka
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Below the Gulf of Khambhat lies an ancient city that could rewrite history. Discovered in 2001, Dwarka is estimated to be over 9,500 years old—thousands of years older than Mesopotamian civilization. Hindu legend says this was Lord Krishna’s city that sank after his death.
Baiae
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Baiae was essentially Las Vegas, but with Roman emperors. It was a playground for the elite, filled with lavish villas, hot springs, and scandal. However, volcanic activity caused parts of the city to sink to the bottom of the Gulf of Naples. The ruins rest beneath the waves, complete with mosaics and statues.
Yonaguni Jima
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Some believe this mysterious monument off Japan’s coast is a lost civilization. Others insist it’s just an oddly shaped rock formation. What’s certain is that Yonaguni Jima looks eerily like a man-made structure, with platforms, staircases, and a pyramid-like formation. If it’s truly an ancient city, it may date back 5,000 years.
Pavlopetri
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Discovered in 1967 off the coast of Greece, Pavlopetri is one of the most ancient sunken cities ever found. The town dates back to 3500 B.C.E. and harbors carved streets, courtyards, and a water management system. Archaeologists believe an earthquake sent it to the seafloor around 1000 B.C.E.
Shicheng
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Unlike most lost cities, Shicheng didn’t disappear due to a natural disaster. Instead, it was deliberately flooded in 1959 to make way for a hydroelectric dam. Now buried 130 feet in Qiandao Lake, this 1,400-year-old city is remarkably intact, with its temples and stone carvings untouched by time.
Thonis-Heracleion
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Once a bustling trade hub, Thonis-Heracleion vanished in the Mediterranean around 1,200 years ago—likely due to an earthquake and rising sea levels. When rediscovered in the late 20th century, its ruins included colossal statues, gold treasures, and Greek and Egyptian artifacts.
Rungholt
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Rungholt, a wealthy medieval town in northern Germany, was wiped off the map by a violent storm in 1362. According to legend, its residents angered the heavens with their sinful ways, and the sea swallowed the town as punishment. Scientists only recently discovered its ruins below mudflats.
Neapolis
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Neapolis, an ancient Roman port in present-day Tunisia, was a hub for making garum, a fermented fish sauce once prized across the empire. But in 365 C.E., a powerful tsunami dragged part of the city into the sea. Archaeologists only confirmed its watery fate in 2017 when they uncovered Roman roads and monuments under the waves.
Atlit Yam
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As one of the oldest submerged settlements ever found, Atlit Yam dates back nearly 9,000 years. Located off the coast of Israel, it was a Neolithic fishing village before being submerged by rising sea levels. Among its most haunting discoveries are human skeletons still lying in their ancient graves.
St. Lawrence Seaway
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In 1958, the Canadian government intentionally flooded ten villages in Ontario to create a massive hydroelectric project. Nearly 6,500 people were forced to relocate as their towns were swallowed by water. On clear days, their remnants can still be seen, just covered on the surface of the St. Lawrence River.
Lake Lucerne
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In 2021, archaeologists found a Bronze Age village buried under layers of mud at the bottom of Lake Lucerne. The discovery pushed the history of human settlement in the region back by 2,000 years. Wooden poles and pottery fragments revealed that people once lived here before the waters claimed their homes.
Portus Julius
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Portus Julius was once the Roman Empire’s largest naval base, but volcanic activity pulled it below the waves alongside Baiae. The site was rediscovered in the 20th century when an Italian Air Force pilot noticed “a ghost town” beneath the sea. Divers can still explore its submerged baths, walls, and ancient structures.
Naucratis
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Naucratis was an ancient Greek city in Egypt, thriving as a major trading hub in the 6th century B.C.E. Over time, rising waters and shifting riverbanks erased it from the land. Archaeologists have since uncovered its ruins underwater, which subsequently revealed the Greek and Egyptian influences that shaped this unique cultural crossroads.