A 35-meter long ancient Egyptian pleasure boat was discovered under the sea near Alexandria. The boat, dating from the first half of the first century, perfectly matches descriptions by the Greek historian Strabo from 29-25 BC. He wrote about such boats being "luxuriously fitted out and used by the royal court for excursions" with people playing music and dancing. This precious find lies just 7 meters deep underwater off the island of Antirhodos, once part of Alexandria’s great port. Its central pavilion held a richly decorated cabin and the boat was about 7 meters wide, likely needing over 20 rowers. Professor Franck Goddio from the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology said, "It’s extremely exciting because it’s the first time ever that such a boat has been discovered in Egypt... They were mentioned by different ancient authors... but an actual boat has never been discovered before." The boat’s flat bow and round stern indicate it could travel through shallow waters. It was found less than 50 meters from the Temple of Isis and may have sunk during temple destruction around AD 50 caused by earthquakes and tidal waves. Another idea is that this was a sacred barge used in naval ceremonies to honor the goddess Isis. Greek graffiti was found on the boat’s main beam but has yet to be read. The discovery promises to shed light on life, religion, and luxury in early Roman Egypt’s waterways. The wreck will stay underwater following UNESCO rules, with future excavations planned as only a small area has been explored so far. Professor Damian Robinson from Oxford said, "It’s phenomenal to have the archaeological correlate to the cabin-boats described in ancient texts and seen in art." This exciting find adds valuable knowledge about ancient Egyptian culture and maritime history near iconic Alexandria.