According to Dutch and Belgian news media Cleopatra's tomb may have been found. Egyptian authorities announced Wednesday that excavations will start next week.
Foto: EPA
Foto: AFP
Radar guided research has shown that it may be Cleopatra VII who is buried in de temple of Tasposiris Magna, dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, and located to the West of Alexandria. According to experts the mummies have been found of 10 nobles, possibly indicating the proximity of Cleopatra's tomb. It may even be the case that she is buried together with Marc Anthony, as ancient sources indicate.
Egyptian and dominican archaeologists have been conducting excavations at Taposiris Magna for 3 years now, uncovering a bust of the Egyptian queen, together with some 22 coins bearing her image and a mask, which probably belonged to Marc Anthony.
Last month a number of deep shaft were uncovered in the temple, three of which may have been used as tombs. In the light of the recent finds the possibility exists that Cleopatra and Marc anthony have been buried here. The temple of Isis was built during the reign of Ptolemy II (282-246 BCE).
The head of the Egyptian archaeology service, dr Zawi Hamass, said that the finds in Taposiris falsified a recent theory claiming that Cleopatra was actually ugly. Both the buste and the coins show a charming presence, he announced. Scholars from the university of Newcastle, UK concluded in 2007 based on a Roman coin find that Cleopatra wasn't as beautiful as had been claimed, having a sharp nose, thin lips and a protruding chin.
Sources/further reading:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/3712084/__Graf_Cleopatra_mogelijk_gevonden__.html?p=12,1
http://news.scotsman.com/world/Tombs-of-Cleopatra-and-Mark.5174770.jp
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6099961.ece
Foto: EPA Foto: AFP Radar guided research has shown that it may be Cleopatra VII who is buried in de temple of Tasposiris Magna, dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, and located to the West of Alexandria. According to experts the mummies have been found of 10 nobles, possibly indicating the proximity of Cleopatra's tomb. It may even be the case that she is buried together with Marc Anthony, as ancient sources indicate.
Egyptian and dominican archaeologists have been conducting excavations at Taposiris Magna for 3 years now, uncovering a bust of the Egyptian queen, together with some 22 coins bearing her image and a mask, which probably belonged to Marc Anthony.
Last month a number of deep shaft were uncovered in the temple, three of which may have been used as tombs. In the light of the recent finds the possibility exists that Cleopatra and Marc anthony have been buried here. The temple of Isis was built during the reign of Ptolemy II (282-246 BCE).
The head of the Egyptian archaeology service, dr Zawi Hamass, said that the finds in Taposiris falsified a recent theory claiming that Cleopatra was actually ugly. Both the buste and the coins show a charming presence, he announced. Scholars from the university of Newcastle, UK concluded in 2007 based on a Roman coin find that Cleopatra wasn't as beautiful as had been claimed, having a sharp nose, thin lips and a protruding chin.
Sources/further reading:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/3712084/__Graf_Cleopatra_mogelijk_gevonden__.html?p=12,1
http://news.scotsman.com/world/Tombs-of-Cleopatra-and-Mark.5174770.jp
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6099961.ece
