Posted on 01/01/2010 12:23:02 PM PST by SunkenCiv
A team of Greek marine archaeologists who have spent years conducting underwater excavations off the coast of Alexandria in Egypt have unearthed a giant granite threshold to a door that they believe was once the entrance to a magnificent mausoleum that Cleopatra VII, queen of the Egyptians, had built for herself shortly before her death. They believe the 15-tonne antiquity would have held a seven metre-high door so heavy that it would have prevented the queen from consoling her Roman lover before he died, reputedly in 30BC... Tzalas believes the discovery of the threshold sheds new light on an element of the couple's dying hours which has long eluded historians.
In the first century AD the Greek historian Plutarch wrote that Mark Antony, after being wrongly informed that Cleopatra had killed herself, had tried to take his own life. When the dying general expressed his wish to pass away alongside his mistress, who was hiding inside the mausoleum with her ladies-in-waiting, he was "hoisted with chains and ropes" to the building's upper floor so that he could be brought in to the building through a window.
Plutarch wrote, "when closed the [mausoleum's] door mechanism could not open again". The discovery in the Mediterranean Sea of such huge pieces of masonry at the entrance to what is believed to be the mausoleum would explain the historian's line. Tzalas said: "For years, archaeologists have wondered what Plutarch, a very reliable historian, meant by that. And now, finally, I think we have the answer."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
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While the Greek Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra of Egypt was probably not as beautiful as sources portray her, her influence and power were most likely do to her wit, erudition and charm—qualities that most women involved in politics today lack.
Isn’t youth beautiful!
Thank you for this, Civ!!!
I love your postings!!!!!
:-) Smooch!
Those Egyptians and their farting horses drawing chariots; They went’n caused the waters to rise and drown Liz’s tomb !
Liz was the most beautiful according to many....but when she opened her mouth, she sounded like a choking chicken...that voice....
While the Greek Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra of Egypt was probably not as beautiful as sources portray her, her influence and power were most likely do to her wit, erudition and charm—qualities that most women involved in politics today lack.
True. And Cleopatra ruled excellently and effectively.
ahhh the great Pyramids of Egypt.
But if the doors couldn't open again, then why did they have such big knockers?
I believe her success may be related to a skill which pre-dated both chrome and the trailer hitch...
:’) Mark Antony probably considered Augustus a pharaoh weather friend.
My pleasure bannie, and Happy New Year.
I found some steps for a mobile home, one time.
So did I!
Step 1. unhitch trailer, and park pickup in yard
Step 2. place broken concrete blocks under trailer frame
Step 3. deflate trailer tires so it rests on blocks
Step 4. put a batch of worn out tires on roof
Step 5. tastefully scatter empty beer cans and other yard decorations out front to make the new spot feel like home.
It’s supper time and there goes my appetite thanks to you.
Way to ruin a good thread....
Bleah.
And a Happy New Year back atcha!!!!
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