A tunnel in the city of the god of death has been called the key to the legendary lost tomb of Cleopatra

The purpose of the passage remains a mystery due to partial immersion in water

A tunnel likely leading to Cleopatra's lost tomb has been discovered 13 meters underground in Egypt by archaeologist Catherine Martinez. Beneath the ruins of a temple in the Egyptian city of Taposiris Magna, scientists recently discovered a secret passage dubbed the “geometric miracle.” The city was founded by the Hellenistic king Ptolemy II Philadelphus between 280 and 270 BC, and its name translates as “Great Tomb of Osiris.”

< span class="article__picture-author" itemprop="author">Photo: freepik.com

A secret tunnel was discovered at a depth of 13 meters underground by an archaeologist from the Dominican Republic, Catarina Martinez. The passage reaches two meters in height and is amazingly carved into the sandstone for 1300 meters. The purpose of this tunnel is still unclear, since parts of it are submerged in water. 

Martinez, who has been working and exploring the area since 2004 in search of the lost tomb of Cleopatra VII, believes the tunnel could be an important clue to the discovery of the «lost tomb.» The design of the structure, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, bears a striking resemblance to the amazing 1,036-meter-long Afeteleion Tunnel, which dates back to the 6th century BC, found on the Greek island of Samos. The Greek Tunnel is often referred to as an engineering marvel and was unprecedented in its planning and construction using vaulting technology. The engineering behind the recently discovered tunnel in Egypt is also impressive.

Teposiris Magna was built around 280 BC by Ptolemy II, son of Ptolemy I, who was one of Alexander the Great's generals and an ancestor of Cleopatra. The archaeological team believes that the temple was dedicated to the god Osiris and Isis — the goddess of magic and nature, with whom Cleopatra tried to identify herself.

Sculptures of Isis and coins with the names and profile of a woman resembling Cleopatra were found in the tunnel. Archaeologists believe they may be close to discovering the tombs of doomed lovers Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Taposiris Magna temple west of Alexandria.

Scientists working at the excavation site believe further finds could provide further information about whether the new tunnel could lead to the lost tombs.

Next steps include exploration of the nearby Mediterranean Sea. Between 320 and 1303 AD, a series of earthquakes occurred along the coast, causing parts of the temple to collapse and be swallowed up by water. Previous excavations have revealed a network of tunnels stretching from Lake Mariut to the Mediterranean Sea. In 2009, then-Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass stressed: “If we discovered the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, it would be the most important discovery of the 21st century. Even if we did not discover the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, we still made important discoveries here, inside and outside the temple.