The 2 metre tall tunnel was cut through an incredible 1,305 metres of sandstone and has been described as a “geometric miracle” by experts who have discovered it
Archaeologists have unearthed a tunnel hailed as a “geometric miracle” lying beneath a temple in an ancient Egyptian city. The remarkable discovery was made 13 metres (43 feet) below the surface at the Taposiris Magna site by Dominican Republic’s University of Santo Domingo archaeologist Kathleen Martinez.
The two-metre-tall passageway had been carved through a staggering 1,305 metres (4,281 feet) of sandstone, representing an impressive feat even by modern standards, let alone in antiquity. Echoing famous tunnels of the past, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities likened the tunnel’s construction to that of the ancient 1,306-metre Tunnel of Eupalinos, carved under a sixth-century BC aqueduct on the Greek island of Samos, celebrated as an engineering wonder.
Martinez reflected on the significance of tombs in Egyptian history: “The ancient Egyptians speak to us through their tombs.”
Taposiris Magna dates back to circa 280 BCE, during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who ruled over Ptolemaic Egypt from 284 to 246 BC. A son of one of Alexander the Great’s esteemed generals, Ptolemy I, he is counted among Cleopatra’s ancestors, reports the Mirror US.
Researchers believe that the temple where the tunnel was found was dedicated to Osiris and his consort, the goddess Isis.
And the search for the lost tomb of Cleopatra has taken an intriguing twist with the new discovery in Egypt. Archaeologist Kathleen Martinez, deeply connected to the goddess Isis—just as Cleopatra was—has come upon a critical lead in Taposiris Magna.
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Since 2004, Martinez has dedicated herself to uncovering the final abode of Cleopatra VII. Coins featuring Cleopatra and Alexander the Great, and figurines of Isis, were unearthed within the temple – building anticipation for what lies ahead.
According to Indy100, Martinez’s relentless pursuit at Taposiris Magna underlines her belief that a recently found tunnel could edge her closer to solving one of history’s greatest enigmas. The CBC coverage highlights how twenty years of Martinez’s life have been devoted to chasing down the elusive resting place of the iconic Egyptian ruler.
With her origins in the Dominican Republic, where she was surrounded by the Caribbean’s most extensive private book collection, Martinez’s academic journey began early. She graduated from law school at the tender age of 19, set up her own legal practice, then pursued further education with masters in both finance and archaeology, fuelling her fervour for the ancient world.
Martinez’s hunt for Cleopatra’s burial site has become a mission spanning decades. Her desire to unearth the truth about the famous queen is palpable when she says: “If I discover her tomb, many myths about her will be unveiled. I would get close to Cleopatra’s sarcophagus first, touch it and tell her, ‘The world has never forgotten you, Queen Cleopatra’.”
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Meanwhile, inside the mysterious tunnel, objects such as a limestone slab and pottery fragments have already emerged, hinting at the potential proximity to Cleopatra’s final resting place.
The quest to locate the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony persists, with the next phase likely involving exploration of the adjacent Mediterranean Sea, due to past earthquakes causing sections of the area to be engulfed by the waves.
