The 'real face' of Queen Cleopatra?

Archaeologists have found a white marble female head inside an ancient temple in Egypt, which they say depicts the 'true face' of Queen Cleopatra.

Marble head likely depicts the face of Queen Cleopatra

Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

With the announcement related to Queen Cleopatra, the team of archaeologists led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez of the National University of Pedro Henríquez Ureña (Dominican Republic) coordinated with the Egyptian side in the mission to excavate the temple in Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria (Egypt).

Among them, the ancient city of Taposiris Magna was established by Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus from 280 to 270 BC.

During their work there, they found a marble head of a woman, leading experts to suggest that the temple at Taposiris Magna, meaning "great tomb of Osiris", could be the final resting place of the beautiful and talented queen of the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Some other artifacts were excavated at the temple.

Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Besides the statue's head, archaeologists found several other artifacts, including 337 coins bearing the woman's face, ceremonial ceramic jars, oil lamps, bronze statues, a limestone box containing cosmetics, and other artifacts.

Dr Martinez has spent nearly 20 years searching for the missing tomb of Queen Cleopatra, and in the process has also found the remains of a Greek temple dating back to the 4th century BC.

Interesting Engineering quoted a press release from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities saying that the team also discovered a large cemetery with 20 crypts, along with an underground tomb under the ancient lighthouse of Taposiris Magna.

"The tomb consists of three chambers, one of which contains nine white marble heads and other artifacts," the statement said, adding that the team also found a bronze ring from the late Ptolemaic Dynasty.

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However, not everyone agrees with the hypothesis that the team has found a statue of Queen Cleopatra.

Live Science quoted Mr. Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, rejecting this possibility because he said that the facial features of the statue do not match the long-standing description of the famous queen.

Efforts to excavate the temple at Taposiris Magna continue.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khuon-mat-that-cua-nu-hoang-cleopatra-185241216142625242.htm