This glittering discovery was made by a joint team of archaeologists from the Dominican Republic and Egypt, headed by trailblazing archaeologist Kathleen Martinez. Searching for Cleopatra is not just about searching for a tomb it's also about uncovering the truth. The famous ancient Egyptian queens proposed ties to the site has brought it to international headlines as new and intriguing finds and documentaries are made about the site every few years. "My parents had convinced me that it was not worthwhile for me to be an archaeologist because I would never have a serious job and could not make a living from that profession. It added in 2018: Kathleen had unearthed a hidden shaft leading deep underground. The tunnel is an exact replica of Eupalinos Tunnel in Greece, which is considered as one of the most important engineering achievements of antiquity, Martinez tellsLive Sciences Owen Jarus. It was a true passion, and like all passions it cost her dearly. During previous excavations at the site, researchers also found important artifacts inside the temple, including coins bearing the images and names of both Queen Cleopatra and Alexander the Great. Dominican archaeologist, diplomat, and lawyer, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henrquez Urea, "Adventures in Archaeology: Kathleen Martinez Berry's Quest to Find Cleopatra", Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, "Former lawyer discovers likely tomb of Cleopatra", "Mummy with a gold tongue found in Egypt", "Ancient mummies with golden tongues unearthed in Egypt", "Archaeologists Find Mummies With Golden Tongues", "Dominicana seguir tras las tumbas de Cleopatra y Marco Antonio", "Where is the tomb of the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra and her husband, Mark Antony? The series said: Before Kathleen could start her investigation at Taposiris Magna, she had to apply to the Egyptian authorities for permission to dig. The excavations took place at a location called Taposiris Magna, a small, ancient community that was founded in 280 BC by Ptolemy II, one of the Ptolemaic descendants of Alexander the Great who ruled Egypt as a Hellenistic state for nearly 300 years following its fall to Alexander in the fourth century BC. While academics dont dismiss the possibility that she and Mark Antony might be interred in the temple at Taposiris Magna, there is no actual evidence that suggests she is. Monday, 1st May 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Dr Martinez detailed her stunning breakthrough in the documentary. They also discovered evidence proving that the temple foundation had been constructed under the authority of Ptolemy IV, who ruled Egypt from 221 BC to 204 BC. It isnt known for sure why the mummy was given a golden tongue. Cutting Edge Celtic Tech - 2,300-year-old Scissors Still Sharp and Shiny! The team of Egyptian archaeologists and Bedouin helpers, led by Ms Martinez have discovered coins that bear the images of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Plague, one of the deadliest diseases in human history, has a haunting legacy of mass sickness and destruction. "She was a sage, a philosopher, who elevated the ranks of the scholars and enjoyed their company," El Daly says in the documentary. The mummy with the golden tongue was just one of many marvels recently found at Taposiris Magna. Finding the lost tomb of Cleopatra, legendary queen of ancient Egypt, is a kind of holy grail for archeologists. Dr. Martnez's interest in Cleopatra was consuming. Her brilliant manoeuvres won personal and strategic alliances with Caesar and Antony, changing the course of history. "No other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna," she said. But I took what they gave me, and the last day of those two months, I made a big discovery that changed the architecture of Egyptian temples. She graduated law school at 18 and . Read More:Bible archaeology: Location Jesus walked on water challenged. [14], In January 2019, controversy arose over the possibility that the discovery of the tombs was imminent, attributed to remarks by Zahi Hawass at a conference at the University of Palermo. "My perseverance cannot be confused with obsession. The tunnel was carved into the rock and is two meters high and 13 meters underground, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The whole idea that she could have been buried at Taposiris Magna is not really based on evidence.". She has made several previous discoveries in her search for the tomb of Queen Cleopatra. Terms of Use Martinez's team has been digging for 14 years. If the tomb is found, "the history of the famous Cleopatra would change forever. The name of the temple, Tapozeris Magna, is dedicated to Osiris the God of death. Work began in 2004. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Although the triumphant Romans plundered her legacy and life story, Martinez says Cleopatra was determined they would never find her tomb. They split up, and Dr. Martnez threw herself into her new field. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. If the tunnels lead to Cleopatra, "it will be the most important discovery of the century," she said. 2021 was a bumper year for the discovery of obscure, odd and unexpected artifacts all around the world and even beyond! 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The knocked out lower teeth are seen in the photo to the right of the golden tongue. Other treasures discovered in the burial shafts alongside the mummies include eight marble masks, and eight golden flakes that were once part of a golden wreath. [17], The most significant piece is the so-called "great stele", with a decree from Pharaoh Ptolemy V revealing the date of the temple's construction to be between 221 and 203 BCE, and demonstrating, according to Martnez, the importance of said religious construction dedicated to the goddess Isis.[18]. Elizabeth Taylor appears as Cleopatra and Richard Burton as Mark Antony in the 1963 movie "Cleopatra.". ". She's unearthed exciting artifacts linked to Cleopatra at Taposiris Magna, an ancient temple outside of Alexandria, Egypt. Though she ruled thousands of years in the past, Martinez says Cleopatra still matters today. It was a true passion, and like all passions it cost her dearly. They convinced me," she explained in some of her interviews. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image," Martinez said. Archeologists described the tunnel a "geometric miracle," according to a news release from the ministry. During more than 100 years of excavations, busts and coins with the face of Cleopatra have also been found. She made sure that her human remains and Mark Antony's were hidden from the Romans and their descendants forever.". And after years of searching, Martinez feels she is getting close. Experts have said that such a discovery would rewrite history and be a once-in-a-century event. Kathleen Martinez is a former criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic who is now determined to find the Egyptian queen's lost tomb. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics. One archeologist said she may have achieved just that. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine "Every day I got more and more interested in this woman," Dr. Martneztold Wharton. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shared the find in a statement last week and described the tunnel as a geometric miracle.. Yet not a single Ptolemaic pharaoh's tomb has been found. Part of the tunnel is submerged underwater, which could be the result of several earthquakes that struck the region between 320 and 1303 C.E. Several clues led her to believe that Cleopatra's tomb might be located in the Temple of Osiris in Taposiris Magna, a region of ancient ruins on Egypt's northern coast, near the Mediterranean Sea. The 4,281-foot-long channel, buried 43 feet underground, is the result of nearly two decades of searching. An opposing regime could not be a reliable source on her life and legacy. Kathleen Martinez discovers 16 mummiesat Taposiris Magna. in archaeology, in pursuit of her ancient heroine. She has made several previous discoveries in her search for . The discoveries made during that time have made her more and more certain that she is close to the long-lost tomb of Cleopatra VII and her lover Mark Antony . Kathleen Martinez Berry creates entire careers out of idle moments. Several clues led her to believe that Cleopatra's tomb might be located in the Temple of Osiris in Taposiris Magna, a region of ancient ruins on Egypt's northern coast, near the Mediterranean Sea. "Even though Cleopatra was a Roman prisoner by the time of her suicide, she disappeared from captivity. "[15], On 18 April 2018, the Cairo Museum inaugurated the exhibition "10 Years of Dominican Archaeology in Egypt", where the advances, achievements, and more than 350 architectural elements discovered by Martnez from the Ptolemaic dynasty were displayed. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, her family's library was the largest private book collection in the Caribbean. [2], Martinez returned to the Dominican Republic, met with the Dominican Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs, was appointed as the first Minister of Culture to Egypt, and was issued a diplomatic passport.[7][8]. ( Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ). Centuries of lore suggested that she did so by allowing a snake to bite her, but historians now say she poisoned herself with a less dramatic method. When she arrived at Taposiris Magna she understood, she explains, that it was the place she was looking for. The iconic deaths led to numerous books and films, and a mystery. She added: "She was an educated woman, probably the first one who studied formally at the Museum in Alexandria, the center of culture in her time.". Tunnel discovered beneath Egyptian temple may lead to Cleopatra's tomb, archaeologist says, Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has been searching for the lost tomb of, Martinez and her team uncovered a 1,305-meter (4,281-foot) tunnel, located 13 meters (43 feet) underground, the Egyptian Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities recently. Martinez believes Cleopatra may have chosen to bury her husband in the temple to reflect this myth. The team also unearthed gold leaf amulets in the form of tongues placed for speaking with the god Osiris in the afterlife. Her father, professor and legal scholar Fausto Martnez,[1] owned an extensive private library, which she drew on to research the subject which would become her great passion Egypt and the last days of Cleopatra. After ruling out some temples, she located one on the outskirts of Alexandria that met all her criteria to be the one that sheltered the tomb: the temple of Taposiris Magna (the great house of Osiris). With unimaginable wealth and power, Cleopatra was the greatest woman of an era and one of the most iconic figures of the ancient world. This is the story of one remarkable woman searching for another, separated by thousands of years. Two millennia after Cleopatra died, it's unclear where the remains of the queen and Mark Antony are buried. Thoths Storm: New Evidence for Ancient Egyptians in Ireland? They have also uncovered skeletons, mummies, the tomb of a Ptolemaic general, underground passages, and burial rooms. In 2011 the magazine National Geographic dedicated its cover story and a report to the project. Like her father, she studied law, attending the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henrquez Urea, as well as going to study English at Brown University in the United States. Searching for Cleopatra, a documentary from The Nature of Things, explores her political genius, scholarly accomplishments and history-making alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Maria Sakkari offers a good display to defeat Paula Badosa 6-4 6-4 and join Irina Begu in Spain capital's last 8, Elections 2023 Where will expatriates vote (polling stations and cities), Greek Australian man dies on Motorcycle accident in Melbourne, Elections 2023 - "New Democracy is with May Day while Tsipras is with April Fools," says Mitsotakis, CLEOPATRA: The Quest to Reconstruct Her Look (VIDEO), Despina Vandi poses in a gold maxi dress: "All we need is love". "Suppose the mausoleum is not lost under the Mediterranean Sea. This Is the Stranger-than-Fiction Story of the Dominican Archaeologist Who May Find Cleopatra's Tomb. Dr Kathleen Martinez has spent decades trying to locate it, and she is convinced it lies 30 miles outside the city of Alexandria, in the ancient temple site of Taposiris Magna. Read on to find out more. "Cleopatra made great contributions to human knowledge and opened us to the world we have now," she says. Martinez, who founded her own immigration law firm in 2020, says her journey began in her home state of Oregon. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. During recent explorations at an ancient Egyptian temple near Alexandria, archaeologists found something startling and unique. TheTunnel of Eupalinos, located on the Greek island of Samos in the eastern Aegean Sea, was an aqueduct that carried water for more than 1,000 years. Archaeologists have long searched for Cleopatra, Taposiris Magna is 30 miles outside the city of Alexandria, Egypt: Legend of Cleopatra's beauty 'confirmed' with 'important find', Egypt: Cave complex' beneath Great Pyramid expose, Two chambers were found at the bottom of the shaft, The chambers may have been used for rituals, Egypt breakthrough: Great Pyramid's missing blocks pinpointed, Game-changing Great Sphinx find challenges Egypt theories, Egypt: Cave complex' beneath Great Pyramid exposed in hunt for 'lost underworld', End of the world: How archaeologist discovered 'real Maayan doomsday', Mayan DISCOVERY: How find in ancient city reveals creation story', Egypt: How greatest archaeological find of all time' stunned expert. [4], In 2021, Egyptian-Dominican researchers led by Kathleen Martinez have announced the discovery of 2,000-year-old ancient tombs with golden tongues dating to the Greek and Roman periods at Taposiris Magna. She noted: What I have been doing is to excavate in places where I have better chances. What happens to First Republic Bank's stock and deposits now? How much money is Kathleen Martnez making on Youtube? A mom influencer from California who went viral in 2020 after posting a video on social media claiming a Latino couple tried to abduct her kids has been convicted . A female mummy that was enclosed in a full body death mask. RELATED: The 10 Most "OMG" Science Discoveries of 2022, Martinez told CNN that she admires Cleopatra as a student, linguist, mother, and philosopher, and she considers the Egyptian queen to be somewhat misunderstood. The archaeologists also found the remains of two other entombed mummies, one of which was covered in plaster layers decorated with golden images of Osiris. Martinez has devoted nearly two decades of her life to perhaps the greatest mystery of all: Cleopatra's tomb has never been found. DON'T MISS:Housing bubble warning: Bank of England to loosen lending rules[INSIGHT]Boris sets date to review Christmas Covid plans as lockdown fears grow[REVEAL]Crocodile attack: Teen attacked fully accepted' losing leg[VIDEO]. Her obsession with Cleopatra she has explained repeatedly in the press was born out of an argument with her father in 1990, and a group of friends who considered that her biography was not very significant. Kathleen Martinez's back story could give Indiana Jones a run for his money. Kathleen Martinez-Nazar/Taposiris Magna Project. It had holes [in the wall] to go down, they didnt use ladders in ancient times. "The most interesting discovery is the complex of tunnels leading to the Mediterranean Sea and sunken structures," she added. Archaeologists are yet to find the resting place of Cleopatra, but on the hunt there have been some beautifulpuzzle pieces unearthed. "I would get close to Cleopatra's sarcophagus first, touch it and tell her, 'The world has never forgotten you, Queen Cleopatra,'" she says. A discovery means a massive archaeological undertaking of cataloguing the tomb and its treasures, excavation and restoration, moving artifacts safely and interpreting the historical meaning behind its contents. In that case, like most Hellenistic city Alexandria, it might be the most prominent archaeological finding in decades," the Economic Times concurred this week. Cleopatra may have buried her husband in the temple to fulfill the myth, Martinez told CNN. She was given just two months to prove she was on to something she mounted a site survey and started her dig. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Kathleen Martinez videos and latest news articles; GlobalNews.ca your source for the latest news on Kathleen Martinez . A group led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez, who heads the Egyptian-Dominican mission of the University of Santo Domingo, uncovered the tunnel. Archaeologists have discovered a massive ancient rock tunnel beneath an Egyptian temple, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced last week. Kathleen Martinez. Built over 800 years ago from massive basalt rocks, this lost city is nestled in the dense jungle and mangroves.