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Remarkable Discovery in Taposiris Magna: Ancient Marble Head Unearthed

A team of French archaeologists has made an intriguing find at Taposiris Magna, an ancient city situated approximately 30 miles west of Alexandria along Egypt’s northern coastline. During their excavation of a seventh-century C.E. house, they uncovered a striking marble head that is believed to date back to the Egyptian Ptolemaic period (305–30 B.C.E.).

Despite the absence of its nose, the sculpture exhibits remarkable craftsmanship. The intricate details reveal a furrowed forehead, defined crow’s feet around the wide eyes, and pronounced veins at the temples, suggesting a lifelike representation.

The excavation team, directed by Joachim le Bomin, an archaeologist associated with the University of Lyon and the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, confirmed that the head is over seven centuries older than the structure in which it was found. This has posed a fascinating puzzle, described as a “captivating enigma” by La Brújula Verde’s Guillermo Carvajal.

The marble head is approximately 15 inches tall, which is notably larger than the average human skull, indicating that it once formed part of a significant statue, possibly erected in a public area rather than in a private domain. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, has stated that the statue likely decorated a prominent public space. The body of the sculpture has not yet been discovered.

Experts believe the statue may have represented an esteemed individual from society, possibly an elite figure, although it was unlikely to depict a king, highlighting Taposiris Magna’s historical significance during the Ptolemaic era.

The name Taposiris Magna originates from the Egyptian term “Per Wsir,” meaning “house of Osiris,” who is revered as both the god of fertility and death. The city and its temple were established by Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus between 280 and 270 B.C.E. as a tribute to Osiris.

In recent years, Taposiris Magna has garnered attention for its potential links to legendary figures. There are claims that the remains of Cleopatra VII and her lover Mark Antony may be interred in proximity to the site, following their tragic suicides in 30 B.C.E.

Earlier this month, archaeologist Kathleen Martinez, who has tirelessly searched for Cleopatra’s tomb since 2005, discovered a small white marble bust that some speculate could represent the renowned queen, known for her political acumen and relationships with Julius Caesar and Antony, as noted by Smithsonian magazine’s Julia Binswanger.

However, not all scholars are in agreement regarding Martinez’s assertion. Zahi Hawass, a former Egyptian minister of tourism and antiquities who did not partake in the dig, expressed skepticism, stating, “I looked at the bust carefully. It is not Cleopatra at all; it is Roman.”

Although the quest for Cleopatra’s tomb continues, Martinez has unearthed other substantial findings that reveal the extraordinary richness of Taposiris Magna. For instance, in 2022, her team uncovered an impressive tunnel stretching approximately 6.5 feet tall and 4,300 feet long, buried about 40 feet beneath the temple.

Martinez remains committed to her search, asserting, “If there’s a one percent chance that the last queen of Egypt could be buried there, it is my duty to search for her,” she stated in a blog interview in 2009, considering the historical significance of her endeavor.

As further discoveries arise, including the recently found marble head, it is apparent that Taposiris Magna continues to hold many mysteries, promising even more revelations about this ancient civilization.

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