Written By Camilla Waskiewicz
If you were searching for Cleopatra’s tomb, where would you look? Cleopatra died from a snake bite way back in B.C.E. times, during the 2nd Triumvirate, if you’re familiar with ancient Roman history. (Hey there, Mrs. Hiserodt!) Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt, and Mark Antony was part of a trio that ruled Rome together. Antony and Cleopatra had fallen in love, and Octavian, another member of the triumvirate, thought the couple was planning against the Roman Empire. Their forces battled—and Octavian won.
After the battle, Mark Antony heard false news that Cleopatra had killed herself. Heartbroken, he took his own life. Meanwhile, Cleopatra was still alive. But when she learned that Antony had died, she killed herself too—by letting a snake bite her. But beyond the dramatic details of her death, we return to the same mystery: where is her tomb?
Dr. Kathleen Martínez is currently searching for this elusive resting place. She theorizes that Cleopatra, wanting to avoid Roman humiliation, arranged for her servants to hide her body in Taposiris Magna, an ancient temple dedicated to Osiris and Isis, where she also believes Mark Antony was buried. Martínez has been digging at the temple since 2005, and her 21-year quest has been featured in National Geographic specials like Cleopatra’s Final Secret, The Hunt for Cleopatra’s Tomb, and Secrets of the Dead: Cleopatra’s Lost Tomb.
Throughout her search, Martínez has uncovered numerous artifacts supporting her theory. These include coins with Cleopatra’s image, mummies with gold or gold-leaf tongues, foundation deposits (pottery, tools, scarabs), statues, a bronze ring for Hathor, ceramic vessels, and even a massive tunnel. To this day, she is still “digging deeper” into the mystery. (Pun intended.)
Other theories about Cleopatra’s tomb also exist. One suggests that her handmaidens smuggled her body away to prevent Octavian from finding it—possibly burying her in Taposiris Magna, just as Martínez believes. Another theory claims Cleopatra was buried in Alexandria, but earthquakes over the centuries may have submerged her tomb under the sea. Finally, there’s the unmarked grave theory, which proposes that Cleopatra rests in an unmarked grave, possibly at Taposiris Magna.
Which theory do you believe?
The SAMS Salmon 