Buried Treasure: Archaeologists in Egypt Find 'Miracle' Tunnel in Search for Cleopatra and Marc Antony's Tomb

A tunnel that is being referred to as a "miracle" was discovered by archaeologists searching for the tomb of the legendary Cleopatra.

Located beneath the ancient Taposiris Magna temple, the tunnel is more than three-quarters of a mile long and over six feet high, making it walkable.

The temple was built in 280 B.C., long before missile technology was developed, yet it is unknown why the tunnel was built. Given the items archaeologists have found, such as pieces of pottery and a limestone block, some have theorized that it served as an old storage facility.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities recently revealed findings near the temple, such as alabaster heads — one from the Ptolemaic period and another likely representing the statue of Abu the horror.

Comparisons have been drawn with Greece's Tunnel of Eupalinos on the island of Samos. The Egyptian tunnel, as noted by the Indy 100 website, lies 43 feet below ground and is partially submerged.

Sections of the temple above ground collapsed into the Mediterranean Sea between 300 and 1300 A.D. due to earthquakes.

The Unilad website pinpoints the tunnel west of Alexandria, aligning with similar discoveries in northern Egypt, extending from Lake Mariout to the Mediterranean.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

Lead researcher Kathleen Martinez, from the University of Santo Domingo, is searching for Cleopatra VII's lost tomb. The Taposiris Magna temple, containing coins with Cleopatra's name and that of Alexander the Great, reinforces Martinez's belief that the tomb is in proximity.

Martinez explained to National Geographic magazine that Cleopatra wished to be buried with Mark Antony to re-enact the legend of Isis and Osiris. Egyptian Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass emphasized in 2009 that discovering their tomb would be the “most important discovery of the 21st century.”