If they indeed find Cleopatra, "it will be the most important discovery of the century," she told CNN. The team of Egyptian archaeologists and Bedouin helpers, led by Ms Martinez have discovered coins that bear the images of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Now she believes she's made a pivotal breakthrough. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image," said Martinez. "Suppose the mausoleum is not lost under the Mediterranean Sea. She wasn't even Egyptian she was a descendent of Macedonians known as the Ptolemies. Now, Martinez said, she is at "the beginning of a new journey" -- underwater excavations. Her initial hypothesis was that since Cleopatra was considered the representation of Isis, if she had had to search for a place to be buried in her last days, she would have chosen a temple dedicated to the goddess. Nathan Falde graduated from American Public University in 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in History, and has a long-standing fascination with ancient history, historical mysteries, mythology, astronomy and esoteric topics of all types. Her mother is of Franco-English descent. During previous excavations at the site, archaeologists found a variety of other artifacts, including coins featuring the names and images of Cleopatra VII andAlexander the Great. Related Article: Ancient Luxor Garbage Dump Yield Offerings Inside Temple Dedicated to Hathor; Artifacts Found Related to Ancient Egyptian Love, Fertility Cleopatrawho ruledPtolemaic Egypt from 51 to 30 B.C.E.and her longtime lover, the Roman generalMark Antony, died by suicide in 30 B.C.E. In 2005, she decided to leave her law practice to move to Egypt and dedicate herself to archaeology. 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. She believes the royal's final resting place was in Taposiris Magna, a sprawling temple of about seven square kilometres located some 50km west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. "No other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna," she said. Cleopatra's fascinating mythology has captured the imagination of everyone from Shakespeare to Hollywood, as well as generations of historians and, now, lawyer-turned-archaeologist Kathleen Martinez. SECRETS OF THE DEAD "Cleopatra's Lost Tomb" follows Kathleen Martinez (pictured), a criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic turned maverick archaeologist, as she . Excavations at Taposiris Magna are headed by Dr Kathleen Martnez, who, after working there for over 14 years, is more convinced than. Hawass denied the news in an article in the newspaper Al-Ahram, affirming that the thesis that the tombs were in Taposiris Magna was not his but that of Kathleen Martnez, and that he did not believe Martnez's hypothesis because "the Egyptians never buried inside a temple", given that "the temples were for worshiping, and this was for the goddess Isis. "If the mausoleum of Cleopatra has not already vanished beneath the waves of the Mediterranean along with most of the Hellenistic city of Alexandria, and is one day found, it would be an almost unprecedented archaeological discovery," said Jane Draycott, a lecturer in classics at the University of Glasgow, on The Conversation this week. A group led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez, who heads the Egyptian-Dominican mission of the University of Santo Domingo, uncovered the tunnel. ", Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, Roman politician and general (83 BC 30 BC). Kathleen Martinez is a former criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic who is now determined to find the Egyptian queen's lost tomb. "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. She also found that modern researchers had quite possibly missed important clues about where she was buried. Copyright Greekcitytimes 2023 All Rights Reserved. During more than 100 years of excavations, busts and coins with the face of Cleopatra have also been found. Who Is Kathleen Martnez, The Woman Who's Led The Search For Cleopatra For Almost 20 Years. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. "She was a sage, a philosopher, who elevated the ranks of the scholars and enjoyed their company," El Daly says in the documentary. ( Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ). 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. The iconic deaths led to numerous books and films, and a mystery. This is the story of one remarkable woman searching for another, separated by thousands of years. Although the triumphant Romans plundered her legacy and life story, Martinez says Cleopatra was determined they would never find her 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. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Cleopatra was queen at 18 years old, spoke nine languages, studied politics, economics and mathematics. She has made several previous discoveries in her search for the tomb of Queen Cleopatra. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Dr. Kathleen Martinez believes the most important discovery has been the preserved scrolls and funeral mask of two mummies found in the dig, according to the statement. With unimaginable wealth and power, Cleopatra was the greatest woman of an era and one of the most iconic figures of the ancient world. this week. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image," Martinez said. Searching for Cleopatra is not just about searching for a tomb it's also about uncovering the truth. 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Most of these artefacts have gone on display in high-profile exhibitions both in Egypt and the US. 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.. They stumbled upon a mysterious depression in the ground.. By 2002, Dr. Martnez's house was "covered with maps" (per Wharton). Work began in 2004. Perhaps, one day, Taposiris Magna will deliver the ultimate prize to Kathleen Martinez, and reveal itself as the actual burial site of Cleopatra. (Video), When Faith and Power Clash: How Christianity Divided the Roman Empire (Video), Medieval Maverick: Roger Bacon's Quest for Knowledge and Truth, The Life and Times of Mansa Musa: The Richest Man in History, Fathoming the Ruins of Yanmen Shan Mountain and the Biggest Cut Rocks in the World, Sacred Treasure Hunt: In Pursuit of the Elusive Ark of the Covenant (Video). She began studying this enigmatic queen on her own, eventually giving up a plan for a master's degree in finance and planning instead for an M.A. The mission is attempting to uncover a portion of the Temple of Taposiris Magnas foundations that have been revealed by numerous pieces of archeological evidence. They said a number of beheaded statues, and statues of the goddess Isis, were also found. Two of the well-preserved statues recently discovered, believed to represent some of the important individuals buried in the Taposiris Magna temple. The first clue: The name. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. She returned to her country, made the decision to upend her life, and prepared a project with the support of the Universidad Catlica Santo Domingo to begin excavating. She managed to contact Zahi Hawass, the archaeologist and director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and visit some temples. And after years of searching, Martinez feels she is getting close. Express. 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. Step into the past and uncover the mysteries of Micronesias Nan Madol, one of the most ancient and enigmatic lost cities in the world. The excavations took place at a location called Taposiris Magna, a small, ancient community that was founded in 280 BC by Ptolemy II, one of the Ptolemaic descendants of Alexander the Great who ruled Egypt as a Hellenistic state for nearly 300 years following its fall to Alexander in the fourth century BC. Kathleen Martinez videos and latest news articles; GlobalNews.ca your source for the latest news on Kathleen Martinez . 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. Dr.Martnez grew up in an intellectual, European-Caribbean household; her parents owned the largest private library in the West Indies, and she triumphed in chess, swimming, judo, and other pursuits throughout her youth Wharton also refers to her as "an overachiever by nature." Excavations have revealed that the temple was indeed dedicated to Isis, along with tunnels that lie under the sea. "Since I was a kid, I dreamed of being face to face [with] Queen Cleopatra," Martinez says. Valley of Kings refers to a site in southern Egypt where the tombs of many pharaohs, including King Tut, are located. The excavations so far have revealed that "the temple was dedicated to Isis" -- which Martinez believes is another sign that the lost tomb lies nearby -- as well as the tunnels below the sea. Katie . She has spent more than a decade searching for the final resting place of the last monarch of the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by Alexander the Great around 300 BC. In that case, like most Hellenistic city Alexandria, it might be the most prominent archaeological finding in decades," the Economic Times concurred this week. She noted: What I have been doing is to excavate in places where I have better chances. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Martinez, who called the tunnel an engineering miracle. She continued by pointing out that a portion of the tunnel was discovered beneath the Mediterranean Sea and that the mission had discovered several ceramic jars and pots as well as a rectangular block of limestone buried beneath the mud sediments. During recent explorations at an ancient Egyptian temple near Alexandria, archaeologists found something startling and unique. She and her team have discovered hundreds of artifacts since their excavations began in 2005, including a bust of Cleopatra and several ancient coins from her time bearing her image. | READ MORE. The temple at Taposiris Magna that contained the mummy was dedicated to Osiris, the ancient Egyptian Lord of the Underworld, who was worshipped by Greek leaders in Egypt who honored the old traditions. Cleopatra followed suit. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. It had holes [in the wall] to go down, they didnt use ladders in ancient times. The discoveries made during that time have made her more and more certain that she is close to the long-lost tomb of Cleopatra VII and her lover Mark Antony . / CBS News. And Reel Truth Historys documentary Did Kathleen Martinez Find Cleopatra's Lost Tomb? revealed how the expert made a stunning breakthrough during her excavation. "I would get close to Cleopatra's sarcophagus first, touch it and tell her, 'The world has never forgotten you, Queen Cleopatra,'" she says. The shaft descended five metres below the ground to two hidden chambers. Centuries of lore suggested that she did so by allowing a snake to bite her, but historians now say she poisoned herself with a less dramatic method. 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. "My perseverance cannot be confused with obsession. Trending And Reel. For the past 14 years, Dr. Kathleen Martnez has been the head of excavations at Taposiris Magna. Returning home to the Dominican Republic, Martinez convinced officials at the University of Santo Domingo to sponsor further archaeological work at Taposiris Magna. Kathleen Martinez is a former criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic who is now determined to find the Egyptian queen's lost tomb. "The excavation revealed a huge religious center with three sanctuaries, a sacred lake, more than 1,500 objects, busts, statues, golden pieces, a huge collection of coins portraying Alexander the Great, Queen Cleopatra and the Ptolemies," Martinez told CNN. 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. It was not the first time it had been excavated; the first expedition had been sent by Napoleon. The discovery of sixteen Greco-Roman catacombs with their corresponding mummies in the Taposiris Magna necropolis, which provide information about mummification practices at the time, was reported by the Egyptian-Dominican mission in January. She also holds master's degrees in finance and archaeology.[2]. [2], Despite her childhood passion for Egypt, Martnez focused her early studies on a legal career. Along the side of Yanmen Shan mountain, located twenty kilometers to the east of Nanjing, China, the legendary Yangshan quarry can be found. "Theres nothing Ive come across anyway that gives us a reason not to think that is the case. 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. Her mom, a healthcare executive, was always a role model. "It will be the most important discovery of the century," she said. Source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. She graduated law school at 18 and . 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.