Kathleen Martinez

Dr Kathleen Martinez, from the Dominican Republic, is an archaeologist and expert in Ancient Egypt. She is famous for her pioneering discoveries at Taposiris Magna, where she believes she has found the tomb of Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Martinez earned a law degree from her home country, but was fascinated from an early age with scholarly discussions about the life and times of Cleopatra. She became angry with the way Cleopatra had been portrayed through the ages, and was determined to find her mysterious tomb. "(Cleopatra) spoke nine languages, she was a philosopher, she was a poet, she was a politician, she was a goddess, and she was a warrior," Martinez argues.

VIDEO: Search for the Tomb of Cleopatra (Featuring Dr. Kathleen Martinez)

After ten years of research, Martinez was certain she had found the spot, in the ancient Alexandrian suburb of Taposiris Magna. And following a permit from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, she began searching with the aid of the country's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass. So far the search looks promising, with a large cache of Greco-Roman artefacts punctuating what many believe to be a royal burial.

Articles and blog posts related to Kathleen Martinez

New Statue Discovered at Taposiris Magna Possibly Ptolemy IV

by Ann

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.

Egypt Lifts Cleopatra Temple Pillar From Sunken Palace at Alexandria

by Sean Williams

"This is one of the most important archaeological finds in Alexandria."

Interview: Troy Collins of the Franklin Institute on its Upcoming Cleopatra Exhibition

by Sean Williams

"It's the mystique, it's the legend, it's her beauty, it's her history..."

Cleopatra Comes to Philadelphia (Well, some of her Treasures)

by Sean Williams

As the search for Cleopatra's tomb rages on in Egypt, some of the Last Queen's relics will make their way to Philadelphia next year for a special exhibition.

Digging for Cleopatra's Tomb at Taposiris Magna

by Sean Williams

Kathleen Martinez talks about her thrilling mission to Taposiris Magna, in search of Egypt's last queen's final resting place.