Could it be the legendary Cleopatra gazing out at us from the marble bust uncovered at Taposiris Magna—or are we simply getting carried away by pharaonic fantasies? A recent discovery in Egypt has the archaeological world buzzing, but whether it truly is the famous queen gracing us once more is sparking a spirited, (sometimes eyebrow-raising) debate. Here’s a deep dive into the find, the controversy, and the remarkable context unearthed at the edge of ancient Alexandria.
The Marble Mystery at Taposiris Magna
In December 2024, a major announcement shook the sands of history. While exploring the ruins of Taposiris Magna—an ancient Ptolemaic and Roman city perched near Lake Mariout, about 40 km west of Alexandria—a Dominican archaeologist made a headline-grabbing discovery: a delicate white marble bust depicting a young woman adorned with a royal diadem. According to Kathleen Martínez, the lead archaeologist supervising the excavation, this statuette could represent none other than Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt. Cue the string section and a thousand speculative tweets!
But before you hastily update Cleopatra’s gallery on Wikipedia, be warned: Egyptologists are not in unanimous agreement. In fact, skepticism is wafting through the scholarly air thicker than the Nile’s morning fog. Many experts caution that the bust likely represents a royal woman or princess rather than the fabled Egyptian queen herself. The Egyptian-Dominican mission, conducted alongside the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University (UNPHU), focused its 2024 campaign on plucking treasures from the foundation deposits beneath the temple’s southern wall. The result? A haul of ceremonial objects and exquisite artifacts illuminating the city’s history at the tail end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Taposiris Magna: City of Temples, Tombs, and (Apparently) Surprises
Taposiris Magna—now modern-day Abousir—boasts a storied past. Founded as a sanctuary to Osiris atop an ancient fossilized dune, it flourished from the 3rd century BCE up to the Arab conquest. Over time, life sprouted around the temple: homes, public baths, and a mysterious monument long thought to be a lighthouse, but likely funerary in function. (A beacon for lost souls, perhaps?)
The city experienced significant growth during the Roman era, with its prime spot west of the Nile Delta earning it the title of one of Egypt’s “gates,” alongside Alexandria and Peluse, a distinction honored by the emperor Claudius. Since 1998, extensive French and Dominican-Egyptian teams have kept the dust flying and the discoveries coming, revealing tunnels carved 13 meters beneath ground level, sprawling necropolises (we count nearly 20 catacombs!), and ruins of a 4th-century BCE Greek temple located near a system of underground tunnels connecting Lake Mareotis to the Mediterranean. Surely, this place was ancient Egypt’s answer to a bustling metropolis—minus the street vendors and Instagrammers.
Cleopatra, or Merely Royal Company?
The star of the latest finds is undoubtedly the marble bust, a young woman crowned regally. Kathleen Martínez suggests it could show Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt from 51 to 30 BCE. But the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is tempering expectations. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, notes that many Egyptologists challenge the idea: the facial features differ significantly from known representations of Cleopatra, meaning the bust could easily be another royal lady or princess.
Famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass told Live Science: “I studied this bust carefully. It is not Cleopatra; it is Roman.” Citing the fact that Ptolemaic pharaohs were depicted in traditional Egyptian style, he adds that the Roman style only became widespread after Cleopatra’s death in 30 BCE. The controversy, then, is alive and well—so don’t bet your last scarab on an identity just yet.
- Among the other 2024 finds: a statue of a king wearing the striped nemes headdress, discovered near the so-called Cleopatra bust
- A cache of 337 coins—some bearing Cleopatra’s image—bronze statues, oil lamps, votive ceramics, and a limestone vessel likely meant for cosmetics
- Striking objects include a bronze ring dedicated to the goddess Hathor and a scarab amulet inscribed: “The justice of Re (the sun god) has risen”
- Pottery shards confirm the temple was built during the 1st century BCE
Unraveling a City’s Secrets
Beyond statues and coins, the excavations highlight Taposiris Magna’s cultural significance: a Greek-era temple, human remains, an impressive necropolis with nearly 20 catacombs, and a subterranean funerary structure beneath the old “lighthouse.” Each find sheds light on the city’s evolution through Greek, Ptolemaic, and Roman times.
If you’re holding your breath for undisputed proof of Cleopatra’s portrait—maybe exhale for now. But don’t let the doubts dampen your wonder: every new artifact from Taposiris Magna sharpens our image of an ancient world where dynasties, deities, and royal intrigue are still very much alive, one shovelful at a time. Who knows what—or who—will turn up next beneath the all-seeing Egyptian sun?
