New Statue Discovered at Taposiris Magna Possibly Ptolemy IV

Submitted by Ann on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 09:25

Kathleen Martinez and Dr Zahi Hawass at the Taposiris Magna dig Archaeologists excavating at Taposiris Magna, 45 km west of Alexandria, have discovered a huge headless granite statue of an as yet unidentified Ptolemaic king, and the original gate to the temple – one of fourteen temples said to contain a piece of the god Osiris’s body.

The monumental sculpture, which is a traditional image of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh wearing collar and kilt, could represent Ptolemy IV, the pharaoh who constructed the Taposiris Magna temple. In a statement issued by the SCA, Dr Zahi Hawass says that the statue is very well preserved and might be one of the most beautiful statues carved in the ancient Egyptian style.

The joint Egyptian-Dominican team working at Taposiris Magna discovered the temple's original gate, located on its western side. In pharaonic Egypt the temple was named Per-Usir, meaning 'A place of Osiris'. When the god Seth killed Osiris, he cut him into fourteen pieces and threw them all over Egypt. This temple (there are 13 more, spread over Upper and Lower Egypt) contained one piece of the god's body.

Click the images for a larger version.

The team also found limestone foundation stones, which would once have lined the entrance to the temple. One of the foundations, explained Hawass, bears traces indicating that the entrance was lined with a series of Sphinx statues similar to those of the pharaonic era.

The team, led by Kathleen Martinez, began excavations in Taposiris Magna five years ago in an attempt to locate the tomb of the well-known lovers, Queen Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. There is some evidence that suggests that Egypt's last Queen might not be buried inside the tomb built beside her royal palace, which is now under the eastern harbour of Alexandria.

Click To Watch Video

Zahi Hawass - The Search for Antony and Cleopatra

Join Zahi Hawass at the temple of Taposiris Magna near Alexandria, where he and Dominican scholar Kathleen Martinez are searching for the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony!

CLICK TO WATCH

Dr Hawass has already hailed the dig as a success, whatever the outcome: “If we discover the tomb... it will be the most important discovery of the 21st century. If we do not discover the tomb... we made major discoveries here, inside the temple and outside the temple."

Dr Hawass pointed out that in the past five years the mission has discovered a collection of headless royal statues, which may have been subjected to destruction during the Byzantine and Christian eras. A collection of heads featuring Queen Cleopatra was also uncovered along with 24 metal coins bearing Cleopatra’s face.

Behind the temple, a necropolis was discovered, containing many Greco-Roman style mummies. Early investigations, said Dr Hawass, show that the mummies were buried with their faces turned towards the temple, which means it is likely the temple contained the burial of a significant royal personality, possibly Cleopatra VII.

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Ann Wuyts (follow me: e-mail or

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Last three pieces by this author:

Unique Iron Age Hoard goes on display at Ipswich Museum | Royal Artefacts - Including King Tut's Golden Trumpet - Returned to Egyptian Museum Cairo | SCA releases full list of treasures missing from the Cairo Museum

Ann 'Vint' Wuyts is looking after the Heritage Key community and avatar health & entertainment. She is slightly fascinated by everything to do with 3D technology and what's commonly defined as 'Web 2.0'. When she grows up, Ann - eventually - wants to be a mummy. Favourite game: Buzzword Bingo /…

Comments

Paul_Z:

''Early investigations, said Dr Hawass, show that the mummies were buried with their faces turned towards the temple, which means it is likely the temple contained the burial of a significant royal personality, possibly Cleopatra VII.''
Ow, just give it up already, Zahi! This search for Cleopatra's body at Taposiris Magna is such a pathetic attempt. Any anomaly he finds he will use as evidence for the location of Cleapatra's tomb. He always starts his search with an answer in stead of with a question.
How much longer will his dictatorship at the SCA run professional scholarship (i.e. not Egyptian) into the ground?

Wed, 05-05-2010 12:55

Ann:

Paul, no one can indeed be sure where she is burried, but I do tend to side with Dr Hawass when he says that regardless if they'll find Cleopatra or not, research/preservation/excavation has to be done. As good as any spot to do so?

But your statement that Egyptian scholarship is not professional scholarship, is quite the insult! Just because you dislike Dr Hawass and his actions, don't judge on all Egyptian archaeologists?!!

Wed, 05-05-2010 13:44

Jean Smith :

Paul - even if Cleopatra's burial isn't found here, the fact remains that any structure turned up in this area could be her burial place. You obviously dislike Dr Hawass but nevertheless your statement that Egyptian archaeologists are unprofessional is insulting

Fri, 07-05-2010 14:43