Archaeologists have discovered a tunnel beneath an ancient Egyptian temple, hailed as a 'geometric miracle', which could lead to the long-sought tomb of Cleopatra VII. The passageway, located at the Taposiris Magna site, was found 13 metres below ground by Kathleen Martinez of the University of Santo Domingo.
The two-metre-tall tunnel stretches 1,305 metres through sandstone, a feat comparable to the ancient Greek Tunnel of Eupalinos, renowned as an engineering marvel. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities noted the similarity in construction.
Martinez has devoted 20 years to finding Cleopatra's tomb, focusing on Taposiris Magna due to the queen's connection to the goddess Isis, to whom the temple was dedicated. Coins bearing Cleopatra's image and figurines of Isis have already been unearthed there.
Inside the tunnel, a limestone slab and pottery fragments have been found, hinting at proximity to Cleopatra's burial site. Future excavations may extend to the nearby Mediterranean Sea, as past earthquakes submerged parts of the area.
Martinez expressed her hope: 'If I discover her tomb, many myths about her will be unveiled'. The discovery could finally solve one of history's greatest enigmas.
