Posted on 04/20/2009 7:47:04 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Archaeologists searching for the lost bodies of doomed lovers Cleopatra and Mark Antony have made a number of important discoveries.
In what could be the most thrilling finds since the tomb of Tutankhamun was unearthed in 1922, leading Egyptologists believe they are edging ever closer to the country's most fabled queen.
The female skull was found during a radar survey of a temple close to Alexandria, Egypt, and workers are hopeful they will also find the remains of the celebrated Roman general.
Egypt's top archaeologist Zahi Hawass was optimistic of making a significant find when the dig began last month.
'This could be the most important discovery of the 21st century,' he said.
'This is the perfect place for them to be hidden.'
The skull is not confirmed as Cleopatra's but is set to be tested by scientists, alongside a complete body found in a stone coffin.
The excavation aims to unravel a number of questions that have lingered over the couple, including whether they were buried together, her reputed beauty and their suicide.
Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said that the three sites were identified in February during the radar survey.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
ping
“Archaeologists searching for the lost bodies of doomed lovers Cleopatra and Mark Antony have made a number of important discoveries.”
Is it really the best use of time, money, and energy to find twom measely people? If you want to be whisked back to the romantic past, read Shakespeare.
Ping
It looks more like an unretouched picture of Nancy Pelosi to me.
Well, if you must have a purely practical reason to justify this research: Tourism is one of Egypt's biggest industries. The more cool things they have to show the tourists, the more money they generate. So in that sense alone it's well worth the effort.
However, some of us love the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake and require no such justifications.
Apologies to the skull....
Never mind Cleopatra’s skull. Have they made any progress finding poor Yorick’s skull?
I have reservations about anything of Zahi Hawass’ annoucements.
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I’d like to put one of those in my front window to ward off Democrats.
“However, some of us love the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake and require no such justifications.”
The pursuit of knowledge is one thing. Obsessing over the ancient world’s greatest US Weekly sort of celebrity couple is another.
I understand why King Tut was important. It was important to find an untouched tomb, so that we could learn about how Egyptian kings lived, not simply where they were buried. Finding Cleopatra, on the other hand, would be more about her in particular than anything so general as what Tut taught us.
Plus, there’s much more of a morbid fascination at the heart of this. We’re far too interested in the way they died, as opposed to how they lived.
I have reservations about anything of Zahi Hawass' announcements.ditto. But I just love his ridiculous hyperbolic style:
"This could be the most important discovery of the 21st century," he said.
“Have they made any progress finding poor Yorick’s skull?”
Prince Hamlet found it centuries ago, copying down every detail in his slate, which was later recovered by attendants of King Fortinbras and entered into the official record books.
But you’ve put your finger on it exactly: Antony and Cleopatra a really a celebrity couple. More star status = more tourist dollars.
Personally, I’m interested in the exploration/excavation for its own sake, but if these people really have found Cleopatra’s tomb it’s going to be another cash cow for the Egyptian government. It’s not “obsessing,” it’s pragmatism.
Anyway, your tax dollars aren’t being used, so what the heck.
He’s a real showman alright, but that’s about it in my opinion.
How long before “Skull and Bones” steal it?
What I’ve read about Cleopatra she was actually considered plain, but it was the tone of her voice, demeanor and charm that won men over.
It’ll be interesting to see what forensic reconstruction they do on the skull to see what she might look like.
“...her reputed beauty...”
Cleopatra’s beauty could never match that of Elizabeth Taylor, AD 1963.
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