Posted on 04/25/2008 7:44:34 PM PDT by blam
Egypt: Tomb of Cleopatra and lover to be uncovered
Cairo, 24 April(AKI) - Archaeologists have revealed plans to uncover the 2000 year-old tomb of ancient Egypt's most famous lovers, Cleopatra and the Roman general Mark Antony later this year.
Zahi Hawass, prominent archaeologist and director of Egypt's superior council for antiquities announced a proposal to test the theory that the couple were buried together.
He discussed the project in Cairo at a media conference about the ancient pharaohs.
Hawass said that the remains of the legendary Egyptian queen and her Roman lover, Mark Antony, were inside a temple called Tabusiris Magna, 30 kilometres from the port city of Alexandria in northern Egypt.
Until recently access to the tomb has been hindered because it is under water, but archaeologists plan to drain the site so they can begin excavation in November.
Among the clues to suggest that the temple may contain Cleopatra's remains is the discovery of numerous coins with the face of the queen.
According to Hawas, Egyptologists have also uncovered a 120-metre-long underground tunnel with many rooms, some of which could contain more details about Cleopatra.
Born in Rome, Mark Antony was a military general and commander, as well as supporter of Julius Caesar. He was also Cleopatra's lover and bore him a son, called Caesarion.
After Julius Caesar's assassination in March 44 B.C., Antony formed a triumvirate with Octavian, also known as Augustus, and Marcus Lepidus.
Civil war ensued in Rome due to disagreements between Antony and Octavian, who was Julius Caesar's heir and who later became Rome's first emperor.
Antony was subsequently defeated by Octavian and he later committed suicide.
Cleopatra, who came to power at 18 years of age, was once the ruler of Egypt and considered the last of seven queens of the same name.
She was famous for her intelligence, her beauty and her political power.
Cleopatra who also bore Mark Antony twins, committed suicide after his death in August 30 B.C.
GGG Ping.
Walk like an Egyptian...
Watch out for the mummy’s revenge!
They should put Geraldo Rivera on the story....
Gender confusion has apparently been around a while.
Caesarion's father was Caesar. His mother was Cleopatra. His cousin Octavian probably had Caesarion killed eventually.
Antony was back in Italy at the time doing what he did best. Being an a**hole.
[Born in Rome, Mark Antony was a military general and commander, as well as supporter of Julius Caesar. He was also Cleopatra’s lover and bore him a son, called Caesarion. ]
Using something I like to call plain English, this seems to say Mark Anthony got pregnant and bore a son to Cleopatra, who was a he. Maybe they were gods back then.
Indeed!
I'm sorry I never got to visit Egypt. As long as I can remember I'd wanted too. There's not enough oil on the planet that could make me drag my butt to that neck of the woods now.
Augustus was not the first emperor. There had been previous dictators, the first which was Horatio Cockles who at the bridge over the Tiber, stopped the Tarquin kings from being reinstalled.
Julius Caesar, Crassus, Pompey, Sulla, Gaius Marius had all been dictator (Imperator) at some time.
The Mummy Returns ain’t bad either. :)
They suspect the tomb is under water?? For how long? Wouldn't that kind of effect the contents therein?
Amazing how European Cleopatra looked...
THE MUMMY:
IIRC, there was a chick fight scene that was very...stimulating! Um. Very.
Gender confusion has apparently been around a while.Apparently it had been around a while even back then: "Cleopatra ... was ... considered the last of seven queens of the same name."
Funny thing, that.
Ranks right up there with the pics I saw in Sunday school decades ago that showed a blonde, blue-eyed Jesus with vaguely Scandinavian features... ;-)
Personally I think until proven otherwise, Cleopatra looked just like the young Liz Taylor.
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