A significant archaeological find has been made in the ancient Egyptian city of Taposiris Magna, which could finally see the discovery of Cleopatra VII’s long-lost tomb. A tunnel, partially submerged in water some 43 feet below the ground, has been uncovered beneath an ancient temple, dedicated to some of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian mythology.
The discovery has been described as a “geometric miracle” and could finally lead to some answers about one of Ancient Egypt’s biggest mysteries. The tunnel measures nearly 4,300 feet long and 6.6 feet high. The leading archaeologist in the excavation, Kathleen Martinez, has long believed that the Taposiris Magna could house the tomb of Ancient Egypt’s most famous queen.
Cleopatra VII was deeply connected to the goddess Isis – wife of Osiris and mother of Horus, goddess of magic and healing and protector of women and children – to whom the temple is dedicated.
The impressive tunnel has been linked to the Tunnel of Eupalinos, a 6th-century BC aqueduct on the Greek island of Samos, which itself measures an impressive 4,285 feet in length.
Artefacts found at the site, such as coins depicting Cleopatra and other figures such as Alexander the Great, have supported the theory that her tomb may be hidden somewhere within the ruins. Other discoveries have included mummies, statues and Greco-Roman burials. These included figurines of Isis and ceramic pots.
The city of Taposiris Magna was established by Ptolemy II, a descendant of one of Alexander the Great’s generals and an ancestor of Cleopatra, between 280 and 270 BC. This adds more weight to the hypothesis.
Archaeologists have suggested that earthquakes between 320 and 1303 AD may have caused parts of the temple to collapse into the Mediterranean Sea.
Future investigations, including underwater explorations, are planned to determine if the tunnel leads to Cleopatra’s lost tomb or further significant discoveries.
Cleopatra (69-30 BC) is often best known for her dramatic death, allegedly from the fatal bite of a venomous snake. Other theories have suggested she poisoned herself with toxic ointment.
The Queen – the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, effectively ended the final war of the Roman Republic between Octavian and Mark Antony. Cleopatra had aligned herself with Antony, who became her husband and the father to three of her children. Her death allowed her to avoid the humiliation of being paraded as a prisoner in a Roman triumph celebrating the military victories of Octavian, who would become Rome’s first emperor, known as Augustus.
It was recorded that Octavian allowed for Cleopatra and Antony – who stabbed himself with a sword – to be buried together properly.
If the tomb of Cleopatra and Antony is found, it would be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 21st century and shed light on the Ptolemaic dynasty and ancient Egyptian burial practices.
