The Torch
Fall Edition
BY CAROLINA MIZE
The Search for Cleopatra ’ s Tomb
CENTRAL GUBERNATOR
Today , Cleopatra is mostly a mystery . She was the queen of Egypt and ruled for 21 years . She was also highly educated and fluent in six languages . However , Cleopatra ’ s most known for her encounters and conflicts with the Romans , most importantly , the battle of Actium . Unfortunately , the Romans didn ’ t think very highly of her , as Horace called her a “ deadly monster .” Meanwhile , traits like beauty that are often associated with her are not necessarily true . This concept of her physical beauty came from Roman enemies of Egypt , who argued that she bewitched Julius Caesar and Mark Antony . It ’ s hard to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to Cleopatra . However , there is another thing about her that remains in mystery today : her tomb .
Her tomb was initially believed to be in Alexandria , the capital of Egypt at the time . However , excavating has been challenging : today , Alexandria is mostly underwater on account of earthquakes and tidal waves . After decades of searching , the hope of finding Cleopatra ’ s tomb gradually decreased . That is until Kathleen Martinez , a lawyer from the Dominican Republic , came up with an intriguing theory on the whereabouts of the tomb . Martinez believes that the tomb is in the coastal town of Taposiris Magna .
A temple dedicated to the Egyptian god Osiris lies in the middle of the town . Martinez mused that Cleopatra might have wanted to be buried there to link herself and Mark Antony to Isis and Osiris , two married Egyptian gods . Isis was the goddess of fertility , and , throughout her reign , Cleopatra hoped to resemble Isis , legitimizing her power . At this excavation spot , Martinez has found coins , pottery , and broken jewelry . However , Cleopatra ’ s tomb still remains a mystery . Martinez still has hope that she will find the tomb . If found , the tomb would be one of the most important discoveries in the world .
Hillpot , Jeremy . “ Will We Ever Find Cleopatra ’ s Tomb ?” Discover Magazine , 28 September , 2023 .
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