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Dig begins for Cleopatra tomb search begins
Evening Standard16.04.09
ARCHAEOLOGISTS will begin excavating in Egypt next week in an attempt to find the resting place of Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
The queen of Egypt and Roman general committed suicide in 30BC after being defeated in the battle of Actium. Antony is said to have killed himself with his sword, while Cleopatra clutched a poisonous asp to her chest. The lovers could have been buried in a deep shaft in the temple of Taposiris Magna near Alexandria, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said.
The alabaster head of a Cleopatra statue, 22 coins bearing her image and a mask believed to be Antony's were unearthed at the temple last year.
The temple was built during the reign of King Ptolemy II (282-246BC).
Reader views (1)
The interest in these two long dead lovers is facinating and romantic. The facts may prove that she was a great beauty, and his looks,well what does it matter? Anyway,it should be about achievments...
Queen Cleopatra- it is the stories of her wit, charm, intelligence, and sense of theatre that have always sparked the most interest for me. To see how beautiful she was, of course I can't wait to see.
- Libby, australia
