Jean-Yves Empereur

He studied classic literature in the University Paris IV Sorbonne (DEA, CAPES, Agrégation de lettres in 1975, Doctorat in archeology in 1977).

The modern city was built over the ancient one, which means that the archaeological excavations become possible only when older buildings are taken down for civil works, for example.

As an example of this recovery work, beautiful mosaics can be enjoyed at Diane field, a Roman villa from the 2nd century.

Empereur, Jean-Pierre Corteggiani, and around thirty scuba divers then attempted a rescue operation by starting some excavations in a 2.25 ha zone situated north-east from Fort Qaitbay.

In March 1997, the site of the Gabbari Necropolis, Alexandria's city of the dead, was discovered during the building of the bridge linking the western harbour to the Cairo road.