Archaeologists have discovered a white marble statue of a woman at an ancient Egyptian temple which they believe to be the 'true face' of Cleopatra VII. The discovery was made by an Egyptian-Dominican archaeological mission at the temple of Taposiris Magna, located to the west of Alexandria. The mission was led by archaeologist Dr Kathleen Martinez, and was undertaken in collaboration with the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The bust features a royal crown adorning the woman's head, leading experts to believe Taposiris Magna, which means the 'great tomb of Osiris', to be the final resting place of the fabled queen.
Archaeologists uncovered several artifacts along with the statue, including 337 coins which bear the image of Cleopatra VII, a limestone bust of a king adorned with the Nemes headdress, ceremonial pottery vessels, oil lamps, bronze statues, a limestone container for cosmetics, as well as a scarab amulet inscribed with the phrase 'the justice of Ra has arisen'.
The team headed by Dr Martinez, who has spent close to 20 years in the quest for Cleopatra's lost tomb, also discovered the remains of a Greek temple from 4th century BC, which was destroyed between the 2nd century BC and the early Roman period. The temple is located close to an intricate system of deep tunnels extending from Lake Mariout to the Mediterranean Sea.
According to a press statement released by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a large necropolis with 20 catacombs was also unearthed, along with an underground tomb found under the ancient lighthouse of Taposiris Magna. "The tomb consists of three chambers, one of which contained nine white marble busts and other artifacts," the statement said.
"Additionally, the team found a bronze ring dedicated to the goddess Hathor and ceramic shards dating the temple to the late Ptolemaic period, confirming that its construction dates back to the 1st century BCE," the press note added.
While the significance and scale of the discovery is hard to discount, some experts have expressed their disagreement with Dr Martinez's assessment. In an interview to Live Science, Zahi Hawass, the former minister of tourism and antiquities of Egypt who excavated the site in the past, stated that the statue was "not Cleopatra at all". Pointing out that the facial features of the bust differ significantly from established depictions of the queen, Hawass observed it seems to be from the Roman period in Egypt, which began in 30 BC, much after Cleopatra's reign.
Excavations of the submerged sections of Taposiris Magna, conducted underwater, further uncovered man-made structures, human remains, and vast quantities of pottery.
The city of Taposiris Magna was established by Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus between 280 and 270 BC. Following Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in 332 BC, the city became a center for the religious festival of Khoiak. The very first series of excavations at the site were conducted under the aegis of Italian egyptologist Evaristo Breccia in the 20th century.
The mission will continue its research at Taposiris Magna in a bid to uncover more secrets of this ancient temple and its connection to the reign of Cleopatra, as per to the press statement. "The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lauds these discoveries as pivotal in expanding our understanding of the late Ptolemaic period and its architectural, cultural, and ceremonial practices." it noted.