Ancient ship to set sail again to Egypt

ANTALYA - Anadolu Agency

The plans for Phaselos were drawn based on ancient mosaics. A replica of the ship will be made in the second leg of the project and then it will be sailed. AA photo

A ship that served both for trade and as a warship in the ancient city of Phaselis in the southern province of Antalya will be reconstructed by Akdeniz University’s Mediterranean Research Institute. The 600-person capacity ship, named “Phaselos,” will make its first trip to Egypt.

The ancient city of Phaselis, located in Tekirova, had its heyday between the seventh century B.C. and second century A.D. It was one of the significant ports of Lycia and Pamphylia, and used to carry different products to Egypt and the Black Sea countries. The ship also sailed during wartime.

Experts at the Mediterranean Research Institute have started working to recreate Phaselos, a significant sea vehicle of the ancient era. The director of the institute, Murat Arslan, said they would start the second surface survey for the ship reconstruction Aug. 20.

He said the plans for Phaselos had been drawn based on ancient mosaics, and Ümit Durak, who has been making ship models since 1993, had made a model of the ship. He said they would make a replica of Phaselos in the second leg of the project with the support of Professor Hayat Erkanal from 360 Degree Research Group and archaeologist Osman Erkurt.

“We will build the ship and go to Egypt and Alexandria just like in the ancient ages. The project is set to be completed in five years,” he concluded.