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A small statue discovered under a temple wall at the site of an ancient Egyptian urban center may depictCleopatra VII , the Egyptian queen regnant who romancedJulius Caesarand Mark Antony , fit in to the archaeologist who is leading dig at the web site , love as Taposiris Magna . However , other archaeologists think the bust likely correspond someone else .
The white , marble statue — which is small enough to fit in a someone ’s mitt — shows a female person wearing a royal crown . Kathleen Martinez , an archaeologist who leads the Egyptian - Dominican team that is excavating the web site , believe the statue depict Cleopatra VII , according to a translatedstatementfrom the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities . Cleopatra VII ( lived from 69 to 30 B.C. ) was the last swayer of the Ptolemaic dynasty , which started when Ptolemy I Soter , one ofAlexander the Great ’s generals , started rulingancient Egyptin 305 B.C.
The bust shows a female wearing a diadem. It may depict Cleopatra VII, one archaeologist claims.
However , other archaeologists do not believe the bust depicts Cleopatra VII , the program line said , notice that the statue may make up a princess or another regal woman . Zahi Hawass , a former Egyptian government minister of antiquity who was not involved in the finding but has unearth at the site in the past , said he thinks the bust dates to after Cleopatra ’s time .
" I look at the bust cautiously . It is not Cleopatra at all ; it is papistic , " Hawass told Live Science in an electronic mail . During the Ptolemaic dynasty , pharaohs were portray with Egyptian , not Roman , art panache . The R.C. period in Egypt began in 30 B.C. after Cleopatra ’s death . Her tomb has never been found .
Taposiris Magna was a city founded around 280 B.C. near the Mediterranean Sea ; it had a act of temples dedicated toOsirisand Isis , among other deities . A sherd of another tear depict a B. B. King put on the " Nemes " — a headgear that become over the head and down to the shoulders — was recover near the distaff bust at the temple in Taposiris Magna , the affirmation said . It ’s unclear which king this depicts , however .
(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Archaeologists did an submerged excavation near the ancient city of Taposiris Magna .
Various artifacts — including ceramic amphorae , coins , oil color lamps and the bust of distaff and virile somebody — were found at the web site .
Archaeologists also unearthed 337 coins , many of which depict Cleopatra VII , near the fizzle . In improver , they discover a motley of other artifacts , such as oil lamp ; a bronze ring dedicated to Hathor , a sky goddess associate with fertility and beloved ; and an amulet engraved with the idiomatic expression " The justice of Ra has rise . " ( Ra was the Lord’s Day god . )
(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Related : What did Cleopatra , Egypt ’s last pharaoh , really look like ?
All of the artifact were found nigh together and were part of a " groundwork deposit " at the temple , the statement said . Ancient Egyptians commonly bury a hoard of items just before they began construction of an authoritative structure ; these object interment are now called understructure deposits .
Ancient coin were unearth at the temple site in Taposiris Magna .
(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
The team found 337 coin , many of which feature Cleopatra VII , the last swayer of the Ptolemaic dynasty .
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(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
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In addition , the squad found the remains of a different temple at Taposiris Magna that was in use between roughly the 4th and 2nd centuries B.C. , during Ptolemaic times . Near this synagogue , they unearthed a cemetery containing at least 20 tombs . They also research underwater and found human remains , pottery and social organization that have not been distinguish or dated .
Martinez and her team have been working at the site for more than a 10 and have unearthed the cadaver of temple , tombs and avast tunnelbeneath a temple . Previously , she suggested that Taposiris Magna curb the grave of Cleopatra VII , but this idea haslittle supportamong other archaeologists . unrecorded Science adjoin Martinez but did not listen back by publication meter .
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