In a recent announcement related to Queen Cleopatra, an archaeological team led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez from the National University of Pedro Henríquez Ureña (Dominican Republic) has collaborated with Egyptian authorities in an excavation mission at the Taposiris Magna temple, located west of Alexandria, Egypt.
The ancient site of Taposiris Magna was established by Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus between 280 and 270 BCE. During the excavation, the team uncovered a marble statue head of a woman, which led experts to speculate that this temple, meaning “Great Tomb of Osiris,” might be the final resting place of the beautiful and intelligent queen from the Ptolemaic dynasty.
In addition to the statue head, archaeologists discovered other artifacts, including 337 coins bearing the image of the woman, ceramic vessels used in religious rituals, oil lamps, bronze statues, a limestone box containing cosmetics, and other items.
Dr. Martinez has dedicated nearly 20 years to searching for Cleopatra’s lost tomb. In the process, she also uncovered the ruins of a Greek temple dating back to the 4th century BCE.
According to a press release from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the team also uncovered a large cemetery with 20 tombs, including a subterranean burial chamber beneath the ancient lighthouse of Taposiris Magna. “The tomb consists of three rooms, one of which contains nine white marble statue heads and other artifacts,” the statement said, adding that the experts also discovered a copper ring from the late Ptolemaic period.
However, not everyone agrees with the hypothesis that the team has found a statue of Queen Cleopatra. Zahi Hawass, former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, dismissed this possibility, stating that the facial features of the statue do not match the long-standing descriptions of the famous queen.
Excavations at the Taposiris Magna temple continue as experts work to uncover more clues.
