The 'real face' of Queen Cleopatra?

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

The marble head most likely depicts the face of Queen Cleopatra.

Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Following the announcement concerning Queen Cleopatra, a team of archaeologists led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez of Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University (Dominican Republic) collaborated with Egyptian authorities on a mission to excavate a temple at Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria (Egypt).

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

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

Several other artifacts were unearthed at the temple.

Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Besides the head of the statue, archaeologists found several other artifacts, including 337 coins imprinted with the woman's face, ceremonial ceramic vessels, oil lamps, bronze statues, a limestone box containing cosmetics, and other ancient items.

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

The Interesting Engineering website, citing a press release from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, reported that the team simultaneously discovered a large cemetery with 20 burial chambers, along with an underground tomb beneath the ancient lighthouse of Taposiris Magna.

"The tomb consists of three chambers, one of which contains nine white marble head statues and other artifacts," the announcement stated, adding that the team of experts also found a bronze ring dating back to the late Ptolemaic dynasty.

The face of Egyptian king Tutankhamun is revealed for the first time in over 3,300 years.

However, not everyone agrees with the theory that the group found a statue of Queen Cleopatra.

Live Science quoted Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, as rejecting this possibility, arguing that the facial features of the statue do not match the long-held descriptions of the famous queen.

Efforts to excavate the temple at Taposiris Magna are continuing.

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