For two decades, National Geographic Explorer Kathleen Martínez has searched for Cleopatra’s final resting place — not in Alexandria, where most scholars believe she is buried, but in a little-known temple nearby called Taposiris Magna. Her search has led to one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries in years.
Working with famed Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard, Martínez uncovered a submerged port that dates to Cleopatra’s era. The discovery included amphora, multiple anchors, a polished floor, and towering columns — evidence of an ancient port lost to the Mediterranean Sea.
“The submerged landscape near the ruins of Taposiris Magna is believed to be a crucial development in solving the 2,000-year-old mystery of Queen Cleopatra VII’s tomb.”
The newly excavated promenade avenue leads directly from the temple to the Mediterranean Sea — further evidence of the relationship between the land temple and underwater constructions on the peninsula.
Whether Cleopatra’s tomb is actually at Taposiris Magna remains to be seen. But the discovery has reignited one of archaeology’s greatest quests — and demonstrated how much of human history still lies hidden beneath the waves.
