One of the lost tombs in Egypt, which represents a great mystery for archaeologists, is the tomb of the Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra, and it is believed that the burial place is near Alexandria in Egypt. According to the Roman historians Suetonius and Plutarch, the Roman general Augustus allowed them to be buried together after he defeated them, and the surviving children were taken to Rome to grow up as Roman citizens.
Ten years ago, many archaeological reports came out that the excavation work carried out by the mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, headed by Dr. Zahi Hawass, in the "Taposiris" area of Burj Al Arab, confirmed that the archaeological evidence on the roof on the eastern side of the temple that was built for the worshipers of the Holy Trinity "Isis, Osiris and Horus", confirms the existence of the tomb of Queen Cleopatra.
But other than the Abu Sir area, there are many archaeologists who believed that the tomb of the Egyptian queen existed in places different from what was announced by Dr. Zahi Hawass. According to the book "Alexandria...the Library and the Academy in the Ancient World" by the writer Muhammad Abdel Moneim Amer, it was not the tomb of Cleopatra and Annunius. It is far from the tomb of Alexander, as it was mentioned that it is located near the eastern wall of the temple of Isis in Luzia in Alexandria, and that what confirms the presence of Alexander's tomb in Alexandria is what Plutarch mentioned that the golden sarcophagus, which contained the body of the great conqueror, was taken by Ptolemy XI in the year 101 BC. And a glass coffin was placed in its place, as it was mentioned that Cleopatra, in an era of drought, looted the valuables in the tombs of her fathers and grandfathers, including Alexander himself.
While the writer Alaa Khaled, in his book "Faces of Alexandria", sees the tomb of Queen Cleopatra, it may be in the chain area located on the Corniche of Alexandria, which was within the royal quarter in the Ptolemaic times.
The archaeologist Alaa Al-Shahat confirmed, in previous press statements, the prevailing opinion of archaeologists that the cemetery and the rest of the tombs of the Ptolemaic kings are located in the royal neighborhood that is currently located in the central neighborhood of Alexandria, because of its important characteristic of the location of royal palaces and theaters such as Kom El-Dikka, the Roman theater and the famous baths, Therefore, it is possible that the cemetery is located in a central neighborhood, which is what Dr. Ezzat Qadous, professor of Greco-Roman antiquities at Alexandria University, is inclined to.
Also, Dr. Abdel Halim Noureddine, Professor of Egyptian Antiquities at the Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University, believed that if there were suggestions, it could be in ancient Alexandria and not on the northern coast.
As for the archaeologist, Muhammad Ali Saeed, he believes that the Abu Sir area is the closest to having Cleopatra’s tomb, as many artifacts and texts were found indicating the possibility of the Egyptian queen’s tomb being there.
Sun, Mar. 26, 2023
