AntiquitiesMariout in antiquity

Marea

An ancient port on the south shore of Lake Mariout, with a harbour, Roman baths, a Byzantine house and a 5th-century basilica.

Around it on the map

Limestone walls at Marea, with the blue water of Lake Mariout and the far shore behind them

Image credits

The story

What sets it apart

Walls of limestone and red brick on the south shore of Lake Mariout.

1The ancient harbour on Lake Mariout
2The Roman baths
3The Byzantine house
4The basilica

El Watan (2025) says Marea lies at King Mariout, that its name comes from a word meaning “the harbour”, and that it was added to the antiquities register in 1983. Its parts include the harbour of Marea, the Roman baths, the Byzantine house and the basilica, which dates from the 5th century AD and was found in 2000.

In 2021 Al-Monitor reported that a Polish team had found at Marea, near the present-day village of El Hawareya, a well-planned Christian settlement from the 6th century AD.

Marea is an excavation site, and we found no source on whether it is open to visitors; check before you go.

Red-brick rooms at Marea, with Lake Mariout on the horizon

Mariout in antiquityAntiquity – 7th century AD

Its place in time

On the south shore of Lake Mariout, Marea was an ancient port with a 5th-century basilica, and in the desert Abu Mena grew over the tomb of the martyr Menas, an early Christian pilgrimage centre from the 5th to the 7th century.

This landmarkMareaAn ancient port, with a 5th-century AD basilica
After itAbu Mena5th to 7th century AD, over the tomb of the martyr Menas (AD 296)

On the timeline of all the landmarks

Memories of the place

Every memory is taken from a published, documented source, named under it.

5th century AD
The basilica of Marea was built; it was found in 2000.
Source: El Watan: the Marea archaeological area (18 Feb 2025)

The other memories 2

6th century AD
A well-planned Christian settlement stood at Marea; a Polish team uncovered it.
Source: Al-Monitor: a 6th-century Christian town found at Marea (Aug 2021)
1983
Marea was added to the antiquities register.
Source: El Watan: the Marea archaeological area (18 Feb 2025)

Around it

This landmark
A landmark nearby: open it

Nearby landmarks

Distances are as the crow flies, and approximate.

Emergency and hotline numbers
National government complaints line	16528
Alexandria Governorate operations room (from a landline)	114
Child helpline	16000
Police	122
Ambulance	123
Fire service	180
Gas emergency	129
Electricity faults	121