Archaeologists have found the grave of Cleopatra (16 photos)

Under an ancient Egyptian temple, archaeologists have discovered a tunnel, carved into the rock, at a depth of 112 meters. Researchers believe that it may lead to the long-lost burial place of the last Egyptian female pharaoh, the legendary Cleopatra, and her lover Mark Anthony.







Under the ancient temple of Taposiris Magna in Egypt, a tunnel was discovered carved into the rocks, which may lead to a long-lost tomb Cleopatra. The tunnel, which is already being called a "geometric miracle", stretches more than 1.5 kilometers, has a height of about 2 meters and is said to resembles the tunnel of Eupalinos on the Greek island of Samos, revered as one of the most important engineering structures of the ancient world.

Archaeologist Kathleen Martinez of the University of San Domingo over a decade years was convinced that the last Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony were buried in the temple, and sure that the tunnel may be the path to this discovery.



Archaeologist Kathleen Martinez of the University of San Domingo more ten years was convinced that the last ruler-pharaoh of Egypt Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony were buried in the temple, and I am sure that the tunnel might be the path to this discovery.



Temple of Taposiris Magna, whose name means "great tomb Osiris, located near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, once the capital of the country. According to Martinez, there is a strong possibility that Cleopatra is buried there, and if so, the discovery of the remains the last Egyptian pharaoh would become "the most important archaeological opening of the 21st century.



"If there is even one percent of what can be buried there the last queen of Egypt, I must find her, says Martinez. - It the first time that any archaeologist discovered tunnels, passages under earth inside the enclosing walls of the temple, and this find forever changed what we know about temple architecture.

The archaeologist believes that after Mark Antony put an end to herself after being defeated by Caesar Augustus, Cleopatra developed a detailed a plan for the burial of both of them in the secret place of the temple.



Martinez, who worked at the Taposiris Magna Temple for over 15 years, said: “Cleopatra negotiated with Octavian so that he would allow her to bury Mark Antony in Egypt. She wanted to be buried with him because she wanted to reproduce the legend of Isis and Osiris.

The true meaning of the cult of Osiris is that it grants immortality. By design, after their death, the gods allowed Cleopatra to live with Antony in different form of existence, and they had eternal life together."



Now Martinez may be on the right track: it has become understandable after the discovery of a tunnel carved into the rock, which is located about 12 meters below the temple. Teams working on site found part of the tunnel that was flooded by the Mediterranean Sea, where clay vessels were found under the silt deposits, as well as rectangular block of limestone. The research team believes that the foundation of the temple of Taposiris Magna could be under water due to extreme least 23 earthquakes hit the Egyptian coast between 320 and 1303 AD.



Martinez also discovered several important artifacts inside the temple, including including coins with images and names of Queen Cleopatra, Alexander the Great and a number of headless statues, as well as statues goddess Isis.



Two years ago, the team reported the discovery of two mummies of two high-ranking ancient Egyptians - men and women. The mummies that have lain untouched for 2000 years, are in poor condition preservation, because water leaked into the tomb, but initially they were covered with gold leaf. It was a luxury meant only for the highest members of the social elite. Scientists speculate that these people personally communicated with Cleopatra.



Cleopatra, often referred to as the world's first star, was the last in a long line of Ptolemies - the rulers of Egypt, descendants of the Greek commander Alexander the Great. She ruled from 51 BC. by 30 BC. until the day of his death. Cleopatra became Cleopatra VII, queen Egypt, after the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, and her brother at the same time became King Ptolemy XIII. Brothers and sisters ruled Egypt under formal title of husband and wife.

To establish himself and his beloved Antony as rulers in the minds of the Egyptian people, she also worked hard to people associated them with the myth of Isis and Osiris. To enlist support of the ancient Egyptian people, Cleopatra was also proclaimed daughter of Ra, the Egyptian sun god.

During his life, which lasted from 69 BC. 30 to AD, Cleopatra was known both as a seductress and a beauty, played by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film Cleopatra.

She is known to have used her charms to first seduce Julius Caesar to strengthen Egypt's alliance with Rome and then seduce him Deputy, Mark Antony. However, Antony married another woman, Octavia to mend relations with her brother, ruler of Rome Octavian.



Antony later left his new wife for Cleopatra, after which the lovers got married, which violated the Roman law that forbade the Romans marry foreigners. Soon Octavian declared war on Cleopatra and Anthony, defeating them both. After that, Cleopatra took refuge in the mausoleum, which she ordered for herself, and her disappearance convinced everyone that she committed suicide.



Antony died in Cleopatra's arms after mortally wounding himself with a knife because he thought his queen had committed suicide. Thereafter Cleopatra did commit suicide - shortly after her beloved died of his wounds. As the legend goes, for this she allowed a poisonous snake to bite her, although this version does not inspire confidence in many scientists.



Ancient legends tell of a snake that hid in a basket of figs brought from the countryside. It was she who used queen to commit suicide on August 12, 30 BC, and also kill two of his servants. But many scientists reject this version, stating that poisonous snakes in Egypt, such as cobras and vipers, were too big to sneak into the palace undetected in a basket.



Octavian returned to Italy, where he became the first emperor of Rome, and Cleopatra and Antony were buried somewhere in Egypt. Their graves, they say archaeologists may well find themselves in the newly discovered tunnel. However a number of scholars have doubts that Cleopatra and Antony were buried in the temple of Taposiris Magna. Thus, some experts believe that Cleopatra was hastily buried in Alexandria itself, the city from which she ruled Egypt until her death at the age of 39.



But since Cleopatra and Antony tried hard to associate themselves with the myth about Isis and Osiris, the temple of Taposiris Magna must be related to their life and death, others say.

According to the myth of Isis and Osiris, Osiris was killed and cut into pieces. pieces that were scattered throughout Egypt. Finding all the pieces and again making her husband whole, Isis was able to temporarily resurrect him.

Martinez believes that Taposiris Magna was closely associated with the myth, as the name means "Tomb of Osiris". It could be one of places where, according to legend, the body of the god was collected.



Myken Moslet King, Department of Ancient History Lecturer Classical and Ancient History of the University of Bristol, said that the burial of Cleopatra and Antony at Taposiris Magna would be "a powerful political and religious statement." The Ptolemies called themselves traditional Egyptian pharaohs and demonstrated their royal power and close relationship with the Egyptian gods, building magnificent temples all over Egypt, he says. - Cleopatra VII, queen of the family Ptolemy, depicted on the walls of temples in the form of the goddess Isis. Cleopatra and Antony were presented in public as Isis and Osiris, strengthening their position as gods on Earth.

And the great temple at Taposiris Magna for thousands of years was revered asbottom from the burial sites of Osiris, whose body was dismembered and scattered by his brother Seth. If Cleopatra and Antony were buried in this temple, it would be a powerful political and religious statement, likened the death of Antony to the murder of Osiris. This would also place Cleopatra as the respectful mourning wife of Isis under the gaze of descendants. This would have made it clear to the Egyptian public that the god-like power pharaohs cannot be destroyed by the cruelty of the Romans."