Anfushi Necropolis (Tombs of Anfushi)

Discovered in 1901-1902 in the Anfushi district near Alexandria's western harbor, this necropolis comprises rock-cut tombs dating primarily from the late Ptolemaic period, roughly the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE, with some elements suggesting continued use into the early Roman era. The tombs are notable for wall decoration imitating alabaster and marble paneling through painted plasterwork, a technique reflecting Alexandrian funerary artisans' efforts to simulate costly stone finishes economically. Two main tomb groups, distinguished as Tomb 1 and Tomb 2, feature courtyards, vestibules, and burial chambers cut directly into the limestone bedrock, with staircases descending from ground level. Some chambers include a mix of Egyptian-style decorative motifs alongside Greek architectural elements such as painted Doric-style friezes, illustrating the cultural blending characteristic of Ptolemaic Alexandria's elite. Periodic groundwater intrusion, a persistent problem for Alexandria's below-ground antiquities due to the city's coastal position, has required intermittent closures for conservation and pumping work by the Ministry of Antiquities.