The tomb of Antony and Cleopatra is the burial place of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, who died in 30 BC. It is believed to be in Alexandria, Egypt.
Historians Suetonius and Plutarch say that Octavian, a Roman leader, allowed them to be buried together after he defeated them. Their children who survived were taken to Rome to live as Roman citizens. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities believes the tomb is inside or near a temple called Taposiris Magna, located southwest of Alexandria.
Historical sources
Throughout history, many people have talked about the tomb of Antony and Cleopatra. Plutarch said the tomb was near a Temple of Isis. Plutarch and Cassius Dio described Cleopatra VII traveling between her palace and the tomb in her final days. Strabo and John (Bishop of Nikiu) placed her palace on the island of Antirhodos. Plutarch and Suetonius stated that Augustus finished the unfinished tomb and buried Cleopatra VII and Marc Antony together in a royal way. Cassius Dio wrote that the top part of the tomb near the roof was not completed when Cleopatra died, and that Cleopatra and Antony were preserved in the same way and buried in the same tomb.
Archaeologist Franck Goddio has spent 25 years studying the bay of Alexandria using a method called geophysical survey. This work has uncovered many Ptolemaic structures under at least 16 feet of water, with some structures buried even deeper in sediment. He has identified the submerged island of Antirhodos and remains of a palace that contains items from Cleopatra VII’s time, as well as an Isis temple. So far, only the Temple of Isis has been found in Alexandria.
Goddio believes Cleopatra VII’s tomb, called a mausoleum, is located on the submerged island of Antirhodos, between the palace and the Isis temple.
In fiction
William Shakespeare, who was inspired by Plutarch, briefly mentions this common burial in the voice of his character Caesar (Octavian) in the last verses of his play Antony and Cleopatra (Act V, scene II):
"She shall be buried by her Antony. No grave upon the earth shall hold a pair so famous."
Exploration and discovery efforts
Many searches have been made to find the tomb of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
Kathleen Martínez has led excavations in Taposiris Magna, a temple to Osiris located west of Alexandria, Egypt. She believes Cleopatra was first buried by Octavian in Alexandria, as historical records state. However, she suggests that after the mummification process was complete, priests at Taposiris Magna buried Cleopatra and Mark Antony in a different location without Roman approval. Martínez supports her theory by pointing to the temple’s dedication to Osiris. She explains that Cleopatra may have negotiated with Octavian to allow Mark Antony to be buried in Egypt so she could be buried with him. She believed this would reenact the legend of Isis and Osiris, a religious tradition that symbolizes immortality. According to this belief, Cleopatra and Mark Antony would live together in another form of existence after death.
In the late 2000s, archaeologists found ten mummies in 27 tombs of Egyptian nobles, as well as coins with Cleopatra’s image and carvings showing Cleopatra and Mark Antony embracing. The actual tomb has not yet been found, but excavations continue. In 2011, ground-penetrating radar identified additional sites beneath the temple.
In January 2019, controversy arose when Zahi Hawass, an Egyptologist, spoke at a conference in Palermo. He denied reports that Cleopatra’s tomb was near Taposiris Magna, stating that the idea was Martínez’s, not his. He claimed the temple was for worshiping the goddess Isis and that Cleopatra was unlikely to be buried there. He also said he did not believe Martínez’s theory because Egyptians did not bury people inside temples. This statement contradicts historical evidence, such as the burial of pharaohs from the 21st and 22nd Dynasties in Tanis and the tomb of Harsiese, which were located near or inside temples.
In early November 2022, Martínez’s team discovered a tunnel 1,300 meters long near the temple of Taposiris Magna. This tunnel may lead to Cleopatra’s tomb. The search also aims to find Mark Antony’s mummy, despite Plutarch’s account that Antony was cremated. Plutarch wrote that Cleopatra begged Octavian to allow her to pour libations for Antony and then embraced the urn holding his ashes.
Tomb contents
It is likely that the tomb contains only human remains.
When Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra VII went to her tomb:
She built a very tall and beautiful tomb and monument near the temple of Isis. She placed there the most valuable royal treasures, including gold, silver, emeralds, pearls, ebony, ivory, and cinnamon. She also stored large amounts of wood and straw for torches. This made Octavian worried about why she had so much and feared she might burn the treasures to destroy them.
— Plutarch, The Life of Antony
Octavian wanted to take the treasure and capture Cleopatra alive:
Octavian was not only interested in claiming the treasures but also in capturing Cleopatra to take her back for his victory celebration.
— Cassius Dio, Roman History
The Romans eventually entered the tomb (Plutarch, Cassius Dio), and Octavian took the treasure:
Many treasures were found in the palace. Cleopatra had taken offerings from even the holiest shrines, helping the Romans increase their riches without making themselves look bad. Large amounts of money were collected from people accused of wrongdoing. Even those not accused had two-thirds of their property taken. This money was used to pay soldiers, give rewards to those who fought with Octavian, and repay loans. Senators and knights who helped in the war also received large sums. In the end, the Roman Empire gained wealth, and its temples were decorated.
— Cassius Dio, Roman History