"Suppose the mausoleum is not lost under the Mediterranean Sea. Eight weeks later, with the permit about to expire, her team had drawn a blank. Copyright Greekcitytimes 2023 All Rights Reserved. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist with the University of Santo Domingo, located the 6.5-foot-tall, 4,300-foot-long tunnel roughly 43 feet underground at the temple, which is situated west of the ancient city of Alexandria. "While the tombs of many famous historical rulers are still standingthe mausoleum of Augustus, Antony and Cleopatra's mortal enemy, in Rome, is one exampletheir contents have often been looted and lost centuries ago," said Draycott. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. 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 True Story of the Koh-i-Noor Diamondand Why the British Won't Give It Back, Balto's DNA Provides a New Look at the Intrepid Sled Dog. 2K views, 27 likes, 7 loves, 18 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Dbstvstlucia: DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 No. It was a true passion, and like all passions it cost her dearly. It was not the first time it had been excavated; the first expedition had been sent by Napoleon. A group led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez, who heads the Egyptian-Dominican mission of the University of Santo Domingo, uncovered the tunnel. "The most interesting discovery is the complex of tunnels leading to the Mediterranean Sea and sunken structures," she added. Martinez's team has been digging for 14 years. Related Article: Ancient Luxor Garbage Dump Yield Offerings Inside Temple Dedicated to Hathor; Artifacts Found Related to Ancient Egyptian Love, Fertility For one thing, she was originally a lawyer. "[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. We simply have no idea at this point. [3] She graduated at 19,[4] and began working as a lawyer. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Martinez believes Cleopatra may have chosen to bury her husband in the temple to reflect this myth. Now she believes she's made a pivotal. 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). The knocked out lower teeth are seen in the photo to the right of the golden tongue. Ms Martinez left her marriage and moved to Egypt more than 15 years ago in the hope of solving the mystery, becoming the only archaeologist from the Dominican Republic practising outside her country. Kathleen Martinez is a former criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic who is now determined to find the Egyptian queen's lost tomb. As well documented history attests, she was the descendant of a Macedonian Greek general who was a contemporary of Alexander the Great. November 10, 2022 / 5:42 PM Martinez has devoted nearly two decades of her life to perhaps the greatest mystery of all: Cleopatra's tomb has never been found. Against all odds, Martinez wangled a two-month permit to explore several temples that were normally not open to independent researchers. The architectural design of the newly discovered tunnel resembles the magnificentTunnel of Eupalinoson the Greek Island of Samos, which is considered one of the most important engineering achievements of the Classical world. Kathleen Martnez was born in Santo Domingo in 1966. Theyve also found figurines, statues of the goddessIsis, a mummy with a gold tongue and a cemetery full of Greco-Roman-style mummies. Theyre not to be discounted and her theory could prove correct. [13], In 2016, this was supplemented by a GPR surveyor using more powerful radar to detect new chambers and follow the extent of the tunnels already discovered, potentially speeding up excavation work. 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. Your Privacy Rights But, shes a trailblazer and Im very proud of her for not taking no for an answer and plowing ahead. Dr. Martnez knew of a temple site on the sea near Alexandria, called Taposiris Magna; the temple had been robbed and eroded by the creeping sea level, but it could well be the place. Dr. Martnez's interest in Cleopatra was consuming. "She outsmarted Emperor Augustus and the Roman army," Martinez says. "Her looks are completely irrelevant.". Katie Sorensen. During recent explorations at an ancient Egyptian temple near Alexandria, archaeologists found something startling and unique. They convinced me," she explained in some of her interviews. While the temple site is dedicated to the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, she believes that may be the resting place for several Egyptian pharaohs. If the tomb is found, "the history of the famous Cleopatra would change forever. The mummy with the golden tongue was highly unusual, but it is only one of the fascinating relics that have been found in the 16 new burial shafts recently discovered by Kathleen Martinez and her Dominican-Egyptian team. The search for the lost tomb has taken Martinez under the Mediterranean Sea. Cleopatra may have buried her husband in the temple to fulfill the myth, Martinez told CNN. "My perseverance cannot be confused with obsession. 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. For the past 14 years, Dr. Kathleen Martnez has been the head of excavations at Taposiris Magna. I do hope someome follows up with more findings about this curious mummy. Ten years later, she may be much closer than that. Archaeologists have found a tunnel beneath a temple west of Alexandria, Egypt. In her day, Cleopatra was considered to be the human incarnation of the goddess Isis, and her husband, Mark Antony, the god Orisis, Isis' husband. 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. He is a full-time freelance writer from Read More. 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. 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On her initial visit to Egypt, Martinez managed to secure an appointment to see the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, the celebrated Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass . Archaeologists suspect that those natural disasters caused the temple to collapse. "She outsmarted the many historians and archaeologists who have looked for her for centuries. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Who was Cleopatra? It was the first time that Egypt had granted a license to excavate to a country in Latin America. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image," Martinez said. A network of tunnels stretching from King Marriott Lake to the Mediterranean were also discovered, as well as 16 burial sites inside rock-carved tombs commonly used in the Greek and Roman centuries, the ministry disclosed. 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. Plague, one of the deadliest diseases in human history, has a haunting legacy of mass sickness and destruction. Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, likely damaging hundreds of homes, Transgender Montana lawmaker Zooey Zephyr sues over censure, Debt ceiling standoff heats up over veterans' programs, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, NYPD officer Troy Patterson dies 33 years after being shot in robbery, Supreme Court to hear case that could curb power of federal agencies, The weirdest items passengers leave behind in Ubers. Although it is "too early to know where these tunnels lead," she is hopeful. What happens to First Republic Bank's stock and deposits now? She also set a precedent for powerful women, Martinez adds. Throughout her career as an archaeologist, Ms Martinez has unearthed several items that have kept her hopes alive of finding the tomb. The team of Egyptian archaeologists and Bedouin helpers, led by Ms Martinez have discovered coins that bear the images of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. And not just any lawyer Knowledge at Wharton called her "one of the Dominican Republic's most sought-after criminal attorneys." The whole idea that she could have been buried at Taposiris Magna is not really based on evidence.". It was an astonishing find, a subterranean level that previous digs had overlooked. Now she believes she's made a pivotal breakthrough. First published on November 10, 2022 / 5:42 PM. "I am 80% of the way to prove my theory [of Cleopatra's tomb]," she told Wharton in 2012. A group led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez, who heads the Egyptian-Dominican mission of the University of Santo Domingo, uncovered the tunnel. A joint Egyptian-Dominican mission has announced the discovery of 16 burials in rock-cut tombs, or burial shafts, at the Temple of Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria, Egypt. "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. This is the story of one remarkable woman searching for another, separated by thousands of years. You can see traces of colour, it was once painted.. Sorensen . DONT MISSEnd of the world: How archaeologist discovered 'real Maayan doomsday'[VIDEO]Mayan DISCOVERY: How find in ancient city reveals creation story'[CLAIM]Egypt: How greatest archaeological find of all time' stunned expert[REVEALED]. "She knew medicine, laws; she was a philosopher, a poet," Martnez explains. The reality, Martnez asserts, is that it had been destroyed and forgotten in the sand. She has made. Dr Martinez detailed her stunning breakthrough in the documentary. If the tomb is found, "the history of the famous Cleopatra would change forever. One of the mummies mentioned was found wearing a detailed crown adorned with a cobra and a pair of horns. K athleen Martnez is - in one word - impressive. Photo: KTVU Fox. Her brilliant manoeuvres won personal and strategic alliances with Caesar and Antony, changing the course of history. The shaft descended five metres below the ground to two hidden chambers. Beltane is an ancient Gaelic festival celebrating the beginning of summer and the renewal of life. With unimaginable wealth and. "Even though Cleopatra was a Roman prisoner by the time of her suicide, she disappeared from captivity. Kathleen Martinez. Although Kathleen Martinez, a former criminal defense attorney from the Dominican Republic, may not seem like the most likely candidate to become an archaeologist, she is eager to solve an old puzzle that has baffled the archaeological community: the location of Cleopatra's tomb. 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. 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.". Cookie Policy Where could such a temple be, though, that hadn't already been discovered? 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cutting Edge Celtic Tech - 2,300-year-old Scissors Still Sharp and Shiny! But it was worth it. An intact tomb would enable a wealth of scientific research. In that case, like most Hellenistic city Alexandria, it might be the most prominent archaeological finding in decades," the Economic Times concurred this week. Her hopes are high that Cleopatra's tomb is just around the corner with all the puzzle pieces falling into place. She skipped grades at school; grew skilled at piano, chess, swimming and martial arts; listened to the country's top intellectuals debating in her family home; graduated law school at 19 years old; and eventually built her own legal firm. Many archaeologists and Egyptologists are highly skeptical of Martinezs theory, including Dr. Hawass. Returning home to the Dominican Republic, Martinez convinced officials at the University of Santo Domingo to sponsor further archaeological work at Taposiris Magna. The mummies were depicted in different forms: one of them was wearing a crown, decorated with horns, and the cobra snake at the forehead and the other was depicted with gilded decorations representing the wide necklace. Santa Rosa, Calif. An Instagram social influencer who reported an attempted kidnapping of her young children has been convicted of making a false report of a crime, CBS Bay Area reports. This glittering discovery was made by a joint team of archaeologists from the Dominican Republic and Egypt, headed by trailblazing archaeologist Kathleen Martinez. She said: If we can discover the tomb of Cleopatra or any one of her Ptolemaic predecessors, Taposiris Magna could be the Greek version of the Valley of the Kings.. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has uncovered a tunnel in Northern Egypt that she believes may lead to Cleopatra's final resting place. A female mummy that was enclosed in a full body death mask. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. A series of clues led Martinez to believe Cleopatra's tomb might be located in the Temple of Osiris in the ruined city of Taposiris Magna, on Egypt's northern coast, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean. But Dr.Martnez made clear that the greatest prize of all will be Cleopatra's tomb. In her day, Cleopatra was considered to be the human incarnation of the goddess Isis, and her husband, Mark Antony, the god Orisis, Isis' husband. In 2005, she decided to leave her law practice to move to Egypt and dedicate herself to archaeology. Dr. Kathleen Martinez explained that among the most important of these mummies are two mummies that preserved the remains of scrolls and parts of the cartonnage, the first with remains of gilding and bearing gilded decorations showing the god Osiris, the god of the after life, while the other mummy wears a crown, decorated with horns, and the Up at night with an infant and temporarily living in Madrid while her husband studied cardiology, Martinez cast about for something challenging to occupy her time; she decided to get a master's degree in finance. Housing bubble warning: Bank of England to loosen lending rules, Boris sets date to review Christmas Covid plans as lockdown fears grow, Crocodile attack: Teen attacked fully accepted' losing leg. This isnt to suggest that the mummy suddenly came to life and began impressing them with its powers of oratory persuasion. 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. Martinez said a part of the tunnel was found to be submerged under the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, according to the ministry. A form of punishment or possibly disease? "Because Cleopatra outsmarted everyone," Martinez says. Archeologists described the tunnel a "geometric miracle," according to a news release from the ministry. But how is it possible that the most famous woman of the ancient world remains missing today? According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian coastline has been battered by earthquakes over the centuries, causing parts of the Taposiris Magna to collapse and sink under the waves. Originally trained as a lawyer (and still practicing part-time as such), Kathleen Martinez came to Egypt to begin her explorations in 2002, shortly after earning her masters degree in archaeology. Cleopatra was not black. According to the National, Dr. Martnez's then-husband (with whom she had children) refused to move to Egypt. They split up, and Dr. Martnez threw herself into her new field. Historians believe they are likely buried together, but they dont know where. Neolithic Stone Balls: The Northern Rosetta Stone? "She was an educated woman, probably the first one who studied formally at the Museum in Alexandria, the center of culture in her time," according to Martinez, who said she admires Cleopatra as a student, a linguist, a mother and a philosopher. What is stunning is the shape of the chamber, it is unique. Advertising Notice A hieroglyphic and Demotic stele has also been located, indicating that the temple was considered holy ground. 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. And Reel Truth Historys documentary Did Kathleen Martinez Find Cleopatra's Lost Tomb? revealed how the expert made a stunning breakthrough during her excavation. She came to search for the location of Cleopatras lost burial place, which she believes will be found not inside a tomb, but in a burial shaft in a temple dedicated to Osiris and/or Isis, who are perhaps the most well-known of all the ancient Egyptian gods. It had holes [in the wall] to go down, they didnt use ladders in ancient times. 2021 was a bumper year for the discovery of obscure, odd and unexpected artifacts all around the world and even beyond! Two of the well-preserved statues recently discovered, believed to represent some of the important individuals buried in the Taposiris Magna temple. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. [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]. Dr Kathleen Martinez has spent years trying to find Cleopatra's tomb and she is convinced it lies 30 miles outside of the city in the ancient temple site of Taposiris Magna. "If I discover her tomb, many myths about her will be unveiled.". The location of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra is an ancient. The tunnel seems to have been the artery of a major temple complex, and may lead to the long-lost tomb of Egypt's most celebrated queen, Cleopatra. A Brief History of Steamboat Racing in the U.S. Along the side of Yanmen Shan mountain, located twenty kilometers to the east of Nanjing, China, the legendary Yangshan quarry can be found. The iconic deaths led to numerous books and films, and a mystery. The first clue: The name. The mission, headed by. Cleopatra reigned as queen of ancient Egypt from about 51 BC to 30 BC. She is continuing her attempt to locate the ancient queens long-lost tomb, and she thinks shes getting closer. 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. Cleopatra was queen at 18 years old, spoke nine languages, studied politics, economics and mathematics. While Martinez says it's "too early to know where these tunnels lead," she's optimistic. Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, is one of the most iconic figures in history. Perhaps, one day, Taposiris Magna will deliver the ultimate prize to Kathleen Martinez, and reveal itself as the actual burial site of Cleopatra. Greg Cannella is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News. UPDATE:Kathleen Martinez discovers 16 mummiesat Taposiris Magna. The 10 Most "OMG" Science Discoveries of 2022. She also emphasized that between 320 and 1303 AD, the Egyptian Mediterranean coast was shaken by at least 23 earthquakes, which caused a portion of the Temple of Taposiris Magna to sink and collapse. Katie . She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and powerful political acumen. An Inspirational Courtesans Tale, Was Anne of Cleves Too Ugly for King Henry VIII? "Every year revealed a piece of the puzzle that I am putting together.". She told CNN that the site has yielded some 1,500 artifacts so far, including a hoard of coins that feature the faces of Cleopatra, her ancestors of the Ptolemy dynasty, and the Ptolemies' original patron, Alexander the Great. Partially intact scrolls were found next to these mummies, and the archaeologists have now begun the long laborious process of decoding the scrolls to see what secrets they might reveal. She points out that our current calendar traces its roots back to the Egyptian leader, although typically only credited to Caesar and a 16th century Pope. How the research on Cleopatra's tomb began "Since I was a kid, I dreamed of being face to face [with] Queen Cleopatra," Martinez says. It is known that Cleopatra and Mark Antony felt an affinity to these figures from Egyptian mythology, and Martinez was certain that if she just found the right temple, she would find the mummies of Cleopatra and her consort somewhere inside. "No other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna," she said. When Martinez first arrived in Egypt, she came of her own initiative and not with the support of any institution. 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. On the final day of the dig, in a last desperate throw of the dice, Kathleen spread her team over the whole site. Get latest Kathleen Martinez news and updates. Express. Martnez claims this is a new and important contribution to archaeology. And after years of searching, Martinez feels she is getting close. Cleopatra took her own life after the Romans captured Egypt in 30 BC. Archaeologists have traditionally searched for evidence close to the centre of Alexandria, where she was born and ruled, with many believing all evidence may have been destroyed by a powerful earthquake that struck the coast of Greece in 365AD. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. Im so happy to see Kathleen Martinezs accomplishments. Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. Researchers have been digging near the Taposiris Magna Temple in hopes of finding Cleopatras long-lost tomb. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics. The exhibition highlighted the first contribution of Latin America to the science of Egyptology. She first became interested in archaeology and ancient Egypt at the age of 15, when she became deeply obsessed with the life and times of the legendary Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt and close friend of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, as has been immortalized repeatedly in Hollywood movie s since the beginning of the film industry.
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