Beneath a temple in the ancient ruined city of Taposiris Magna on the Egyptian coast, archaeologists have discovered a huge, impressive tunnel that experts call a “geometric marvel.” During the ongoing excavation and work of the temple, Kathleen Martinez of the University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and her colleagues discovered the structure 13 meters (43 feet) underground. The 2 meter high tunnel was cut from an incredible 1,305 meters (4,281 ft) sandstone.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, its design is quite similar to the 1,036-metre Eupalinos Tunnel, a 6th-century BC aqueduct on the Greek island of Samos. Often referred to as an engineering marvel, the pipeline was unique in its design and construction. While the Taposiris Magna tunnel is unique, its engineering is just as impressive.
While parts of the Taposiris Magna Tunnel have been flooded, its purpose is currently unknown, aside from its resemblance to the Eupalinos Tunnel. VII in Taposiris Magna since 2004. Working to search for Cleopatra’s lost tomb, Martinez believes the tunnel may hold promise. Earlier excavations have uncovered clues that seem to point to the famous queen and the last of the Ptolemies.
Taposiris Magna was founded around 280 BC. Son of the famous general Alexander the Great and one of the ancestors of Cleopatra II. by Ptolemy (who ruled from 51 BC until his suicide in 30 BC). The team believe the temple was dedicated to the god Osiris and his queen, the goddess Isis, a god with whom Cleopatra had a strong relationship. Coins with the names and images of Cleopatra and Alexander the Great, as well as figures of Isis, were found there.
Burial walls with Greco-Roman burials were also found in the temple. It is possible that Cleopatra and her husband, Mark Antony, were buried in such tombs if they were found there. It’s too early to say whether the new tunnel will lead to these long-lost tombs, but future studies may provide more information.
The next stage will be the study of the nearby Mediterranean Sea. A series of earthquakes that hit the shore between 320 AD and 1303 caused part of the temple to collapse and be swallowed up by the waves. Additionally, previous excavations revealed a network of tunnels stretching from Lake Mariut to the Mediterranean.
Whether or not tombs have been found, extensive excavation of these remains can tell us more about the mysterious ancient city. Some treasures have already been found in the tunnel: sherds and a rectangular block of limestone.
As the then Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass said 13 years ago: “If we discover the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, it will be the most important discovery of the 21st century. If we couldn’t find the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, we made great discoveries here, inside and outside the temple.”
Source: Port Altele
