Possible bust of Cleopatra VII found at ancient Egyptian temple

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A small bust of a woman, possibly Cleopatra, in white marble

The bust reveals a female using a diadem. It might portray Cleopatra VII, one archaeologist claims.
(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities )

A little statue found under a temple wall at the website of an ancient Egyptian city might illustrate Cleopatra VIIthe Egyptian queen who romanced Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, according to the archaeologist who is leading excavations at the website, referred to as Taposiris Magna. Other archaeologists believe the bust most likely represents somebody else.

The white, marble statue– which is little enough to suit an individual’s hand– reveals a female using a royal crown. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist who leads the Egyptian-Dominican group that is excavating the website, thinks the statue portrays Cleopatra VII, according to an equated declaration from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Cleopatra VII (lived from 69 to 30 B.C.) was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which began when Ptolemy I Soter, among Alexander the Great‘s generals, began ruling ancient Egypt in 305 B.C.

Other archaeologists do not think the bust illustrates Cleopatra VII, the declaration stated, keeping in mind that the statue might represent a princess or another royal lady. Zahi Hawassa previous Egyptian minister of antiquities who was not associated with the finding however has actually excavated at the website in the past, stated he believes the bust dates to after Cleopatra’s time.

“I looked at the bust carefully. It is not Cleopatra at all; it is Roman,” Hawass informed Live Science in an e-mail. Throughout the Ptolemaic dynasty, pharaohs were represented with Egyptian, not Roman, art designs. The Roman duration in Egypt started in 30 B.C. after Cleopatra’s death. Her burial place has actually never ever been discovered

Taposiris Magna was a city established around 280 B.C. near the Mediterranean Sea; it had a variety of temples devoted to Osiris and Isis, to name a few divine beings. A piece of another bust illustrating a king using the “Nemes” — a headdress that discusses the head and down to the shoulders– was discovered near the female bust at the temple in Taposiris Magna, the declaration stated. It’s uncertain which king this illustrates.

( Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

Archaeologists did an undersea excavation near the ancient city of Taposiris Magna.

Archaeologists likewise uncovered 337 coins, a lot of

which illustrate Cleopatra VII, near the busts.

Related: What did Cleopatra, Egypt’s last pharaoh, actually appear like?

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All of the artifacts were discovered close together and became part of a “foundation deposit” at the temple, the declaration stated. Ancient Egyptians typically buried a cache of products right before they started building of a crucial structure; these things burials are now called structure deposits.

(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

Ancient coins were uncovered at the temple website in Taposiris Magna.

In addition, the group discovered the remains of a various temple at Taposiris Magna that remained in usage in between approximately the 4th and 2nd centuries B.C., throughout Ptolemaic times. Near this temple, they uncovered a necropolis consisting of a minimum of 20 burial places. They likewise checked out undersea and discovered human remains, pottery and structures that have actually not been determined or dated.

Martinez and her group have actually been operating at the website for more than a years and have actually discovered the remains of temples, burial places and a huge tunnel below a temple. Formerly, she recommended that Taposiris Magna consists of the burial place of Cleopatra VII, however this concept has little assistance to name a few archaeologists. Live Science called Martinez however did not hear back by publication time.

Owen Jarus is a routine factor to Live Science who blogs about archaeology and people’ past. He has actually likewise composed for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), to name a few. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.