Searching for Cleopatra's tomb

April 21, 2009, Copyright permission from CCTV

Egyptian archaeologists seek Cleopatra´s tomb
WATCH VIDEOSource: CCTV.com
04-21-2009 09:12
High on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, buried deep under the crumbling limestone of a temple to the goddess Isis, Egyptian archaeologists believe the body of Queen Cleopatra may lie. Her tomb has never been found but archaeologists are discovering more evidence suggesting Cleopatra's priests carried her body to the temple to place her beside her lover, Marc Antony.
Researchers using radar technology found what may be three chambers as deep as 20 meters under the rock. Historians believe, based on the Roman writer Plutarch, that Antony and Cleopatra were buried together.

Archaeologists this week discovered a cemetery near the temple containing gilded mummies, indicating the burial of royals around the temple.

Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass said, "We excavated outside the temple, and we found near the lighthouse a big, large cemetery. Twenty tombs. Looks to be important people. Cut in the rock. Inside them we found ten mummies. Two of them were beautifully gilded, and I believe that those people who are buried beside this temple, they could be buried beside an important person - a King or a Queen. Because no one would be buried beside a temple without reason, as we saw in Pharaonic period, they'll always be buried beside the pyramids."
The discovery of 22 bronze coins inscribed with Cleopatra's name, an alabaster mask with a cleft chin resembling the face of Antony, and numerous shafts and tunnels under the temple, strengthened archaeologists' belief the couple could lie beneath the limestone.
Archaeologists from Egypt and the Dominican Republic plan to start digging in search of Cleopatra's tomb as early as this year.

But the dig may have to be postponed until the fall for security reasons. The temple overlooks the Mediterranean summer home of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Cleopatra, facing possible captivity in Rome, took her own life, allegedly by the sting of an asp. Antony is also thought to have taken his own life after his defeat by Octavian at Actium.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Archaeology
• Cleopatra
• tomb

[lolochka33]

Very interestingly! Thank you!

[Faraone1988]

Very interestingly!

[abcbatman1966]

...But where is the Casino of Gold?

[sverigeserbia]

they're never gonna find it,'cause cleopatra=mystery.And she'll stay mystery until they find her tomb.I like imagining her,just guessing how did she look like,etc...

by the way,i think her grave is in the sea.

[stantheman781]

@Faraone1988 sciency?

[HistoryLover1550]

The discoveries made there are very interesting.

[Kathelynn11]

wow

[Songsmirth]

That is Dr. Zahi Hawass. You can tell because there's a camera around. . . Who was actually leading this dig? Anyone know?

[nutsackio]

i yvette am the reincarnated cleopatra the 5th my whole life is 4-20.

[muty1093]

i always curious about this stuff... make me want to travel to the pass u now. the vid is very nice. tq