Underwater archaeologists in the Canopic branch of the Nile have located the remains of three ceremonial barges dating to the 1st century AD. Microscopic analysis of the silt trapped inside the wooden hulls revealed an incredible concentration of rose and lotus pollen. This find confirms historical accounts of lavish floral-strewn river processions during the Festival of Serapis.
The barges were equipped with central raised platforms for musicians and priests. The discovery highlights the multi-cultural nature of ancient Egyptian festivals, where Roman aesthetic preferences for roses merged with traditional Pharaonic river-based theology to create spectacular public heritage events.