Archaeologists have discovered a 1,305-meter-long tunnel dating from Greco-Roman times near the Taposiris Magna Temple in western Alexandria, which could lead to Cleopatra’s lost tombthe last ruler of Ancient Egypt between 51 and 30 BC
In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities explained that the tunnel, carved into the rock, is two meters high and lies 13 meters underground.
The Egyptian-Dominican archeological mission of the University of Santo Domingo found near the temple the heads of two statues made of alabaster, one of them of a person from the Ptolemaic period (founded by Ptolemy I Soter, general of Alexander the Great)and the other probably a representation of the sphinx.
Kathleen Martinez, the archaeologist who led the mission, called the tunnel “an engineering miracle.” She explained that “initial studies indicate that its architectural design is very similar to the design of the Yubilinus Tunnel in Greecebut it is longer.
Since 2005, Martínez has been leading a tireless search for the tomb of Cleopatra in the Taposiris Magna architectural complex, who, according to history, committed suicide in AD 30 after her lover, the Roman general Marco Antonio, will bleed to death in his arms.
“This is the perfect place for Cleopatra’s tomb,” Martínez told the blog. Heritage Key. “If there is a one percent chance that the last queen of Egypt could be buried there, it is my duty to search for her. If we discover the tomb… it will be the most important discovery of the 21st century.. If we don’t discover the tomb… we have made great discoveries here, inside the temple and outside the temple,” he added.
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A part of the discovered tunnel is submerged under the waters of the Mediterranean. The mission found several ceramic pots and jars, as well as a rectangular block of limestone under the mud sediments.
Numerous archaeological evidences have shown that there is a part of the foundations of the Temple of Taposiris Magna that is submerged under waterand the mission is working to uncover it,” explained the archaeologist.
The expert added that, according to scientific sources, at least 23 earthquakes struck the Egyptian Mediterranean coast between AD 320 and 1303, which caused the collapse of part of the Temple of Taposiris Magna and its collapse. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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