The remains of two mummies, believed to have lived at the time of Cleopatra, have been uncovered at Taposiris Magna. This is a temple near Alexandria in Egypt.
The mummies in their tomb.
The discovery was made by Dr Kathleen Martínez and Dr Glenn Godenho, two archeologists and Egyptologists from Liverpool University.
Experts believe this new discovery could lead researchers closer to finding the burial place of the famous Cleopatra, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
‘Although now covered in dust from 2,000 years underground, at the time these mummies would have been spectacular. To be covered in gold leaf shows they would have been important members of society,’ Godenho told The Guardian.
The mummies were not perfectly preserved due to water damage, but have been x-rayed and confirmed to be a male and female. The bodies were wrapped in gold leaf, indicating they were ‘high status’ individuals that might even have been personally acquainted with Cleopatra.
Image credit: Twitter/Sarah404BC
