Ptolemaic circular bath, Roman mosaic villa unearthed in Egypt’s Alexandria

Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed the remains of a late Ptolemaic circular public bath and a Roman residential villa featuring multi-style mosaic floors in the Moharam Bek area of central Alexandria.

The discovery, made by a Supreme Council of Antiquities rescue excavation mission, reveals a complete cultural sequence spanning the Ptolemaic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, according to a statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the continuous settlement at the site is highlighted by the discovery of a ‘Tholoi’ style circular bathhouse and a Roman villa, which demonstrate advanced urban planning and welfare during those eras.

The site provides a comprehensive model of the evolution of residential and service architecture in ancient Alexandria, said Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector. Excavators uncovered advanced water facilities, including a small swimming pool connected to the Roman villa that features an integrated water management system.

Abdel Badie added that the mosaic floors utilised both *Opus Tessellatum* and *Opus Sectile* techniques, reflecting the diversity of artistic schools present in Alexandria during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.