Archaeologists have made an important discovery concerning Cleopatra: shedding light on new facts of the life of the Queen of Egypt

American researcher Kathleen Martinez, who has spent almost two decades searching for the mysterious tomb of Cleopatra VII, has announced a new "important" discovery. According to the British publication The Daily Mail, the archaeologist presented a unique find.

During excavations in the Taposiris Magna temple near Alexandria, Martinez's archaeological team discovered a white marble statue, which, according to the researcher, may depict the face of the Egyptian queen herself. The sculpture has characteristic features: a delicate nose, plump lips, and a graceful hairstyle of hair braided around the head. This was reported by The Daily Mail.

In addition to the statue, the expedition found an impressive collection of artifacts: 337 coins with Cleopatra's portrait, various ceramics, ancient oil lamps, and other items from the ancient era. Martinez is sure that the queen's real tomb is somewhere in the ruins of the temple, and even suggests that Cleopatra's body could have been secretly transferred through an underground tunnel from the palace.

Read also: The oldest wine in the world: archaeologists found a 2000-year-old artifact in a tomb in Spain (photo)

However, the scientific community is quite skeptical of these claims. Some of Martinez's colleagues believe that the statue may represent another member of the royal dynasty, not Cleopatra herself. Most archaeologists also doubt the version of the queen's burial in the temple of Taposiris Magna, instead suggesting that her tomb is located directly in Alexandria.

Despite the controversy, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities positively assessed the results of the excavations. The ministry emphasized that even if the findings are not directly related to Cleopatra, they are still of great scientific value and help to better understand the cultural characteristics and ceremonial practices of that historical period.

As a reminder, archaeologists have found a square dating back to the era of Ancient Rome in Spain.

If you want to get the latest news about the war and events in Ukraine, subscribe to our Telegram channel!