Archaeologists have uncovered a vast tunnel beneath the ancient city of Taposiris Magna, located in Egypt. The tunnel, described as a "geometric miracle," was found 13 metres (43 feet) below ground level during an excavation led by Kathleen Martinez from the University of Santo Domingo.
This remarkable structure measures 2 metres in height and extends an impressive 1,305 metres (4,281 feet) through sandstone. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities noted that its design resembles the Tunnel of Eupalinos, a 6th-century BC aqueduct on the Greek island of Samos, celebrated for its engineering prowess.
The purpose of the Taposiris Magna tunnel remains unclear; however, portions of it are submerged in water. Martinez, who has been investigating Taposiris Magna since 2004 in search of Cleopatra VII's lost tomb, considers this tunnel a promising lead.
Taposiris Magna was established around 280 BCE by Ptolemy II, a descendant of one of Alexander the Great's generals and an ancestor of Cleopatra. The temple is believed to have been dedicated to Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and his queen, Isis, a deity closely associated with Cleopatra. Artifacts, including figurines of Isis and coins depicting Cleopatra and Alexander the Great, have been discovered at the site.
Future explorations may provide insights into whether this tunnel leads to Cleopatra's long-lost tomb. Planned investigations will include the nearby Mediterranean Sea, as a series of earthquakes between 320 and 1303 CE caused parts of the temple to collapse into the sea. Previous excavations have unveiled a network of tunnels extending from Lake Mariout to the Mediterranean.
The excavation has already yielded artifacts such as a rectangular limestone block and fragments of pottery. In 2009, former Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass remarked that discovering Cleopatra and Mark Antony's tomb would be the 21st century's most significant archaeological find, although major discoveries have already been made at the site.