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KATHLEEN: Oof.
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(dramatic music)
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I'm not able to walk, but I can see.
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There is an entrance.
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NARRATOR: Just outside Alexandria,
deep beneath a temple,
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archaeologists are searching
for the tomb of Cleopatra,
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Egypt's last queen.
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KATHLEEN: I have a hunch, and I think I...
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I am about to solve this mystery
with this door.
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Oh...
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(coughing)
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I can't breathe.
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NARRATOR: Ancient Egypt.
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Its unparalleled monuments tell the story
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of a civilization
that spanned 3,000 years.
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But its final chapter revolves
around one beautiful
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and beguiling woman, Cleopatra.
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This legendary queen was
Egypt's last ever pharaoh,
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despite having a healthy son and heir.
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Today, archaeologists across Egypt
are investigating
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the mystery surrounding the end
of her reign.
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Was Cleopatra a successful pharaoh?
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What turmoil contributed to her downfall?
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And where is her long-lost tomb?
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On the outskirts of Alexandria,
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at the temple of Taposiris Magna,
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Dominican archaeologist
Kathleen Martinez is searching
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for Cleopatra's burial chamber.
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Its location is one
of the greatest mysteries
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in the history of Ancient Egypt.
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KATHLEEN: I believe when we discover
the tomb of Queen Cleopatra,
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she will tell her story,
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and it's going to be marvelous.
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NARRATOR: Kathleen first heard
the story of Cleopatra
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when she was just 15 years old.
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After 20 years as a successful lawyer,
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she quit to dedicate her life
to finding the lost queen.
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KATHLEEN: She's my heroine.
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I think she was an accomplished woman,
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very advanced for her time.
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She was a politician.
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She was able to speak
all the languages of her time,
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nine languages.
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She was a queen. She was a goddess.
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I believe she was a genius.
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NARRATOR: While many believe
Cleopatra's tomb
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to be in her capital, Alexandria,
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Kathleen's investigations have led her
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to the temple of Taposiris Magna.
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She thinks Cleopatra used this temple
to conceal her tomb.
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♪ ♪
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KATHLEEN: Cleopatra was
the human representation
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of goddess Isis,
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and this temple was dedicated to Isis.
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That's why I believe she's buried here.
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NARRATOR: It's Kathleen's
twelfth season digging here,
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and she's already discovered
coins bearing the image
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of the legendary queen,
evidence the temple dates to her time.
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KATHLEEN: Every year that I come to Egypt,
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I'm putting a piece
of the puzzle together.
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I know I'm getting closer and closer.
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NARRATOR: Last year,
Kathleen used a network of geophones
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to make an astonishing discovery.
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Geophones record small vibrations
in the earth's crust
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to detect subterranean cavities.
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At Taposiris Magna,
they exposed a large empty space
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below the temple.
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Kathleen is eager to find out
if this void could be
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Cleopatra's long-lost tomb.
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She attempted to access it
via an ancient tunnel last season,
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but heavy rains
made it impossible to enter.
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Now, because of an
exceptionally hot summer,
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the tunnel is dry.
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Will it lead Kathleen
to the mysterious void
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and Cleopatra?
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KATHLEEN: I know.
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I know there's something
very important down there.
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NARRATOR: But even now,
when the tunnel is dry,
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exploring it is a serious challenge.
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The only way in is down
a dangerous rock-cut shaft.
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To climb down the shaft,
Kathleen's workmen must
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install a chain of ladders.
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It's a time-consuming task,
but essential to get right.
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With a 25-foot drop,
any mistakes will be fatal.
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KATHLEEN: We have to do it,
but in a safe way.
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Once the ladder falls, we're dead.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR: In Alexandria,
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American Egyptologist Meredith Brand
is also on the trail of Cleopatra.
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The catacomb of Kom el Shoqafa
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lies 65-feet below the modern city.
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No one knows exactly who was buried here,
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but it's one of the only
surviving large tombs
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of ancient Alexandria.
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MEREDITH: It's gorgeous.
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We don't know what Cleopatra's tomb
would have looked like,
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and we haven't found any other
royal tombs from her dynasty,
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so this tomb here is
our best approximation.
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NARRATOR: Meredith was just 17
when she first came to Egypt.
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She's since spent more time
in ancient tombs
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than back home in the U.S.
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MEREDITH: Coming to places
like this is one of the reasons
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why I became an Egyptologist.
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NARRATOR: Meredith examines
the tomb's statues
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and the carvings on the walls.
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MEREDITH: This scene is fantastic.
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You have a god, Anubis,
the Jackal-headed deity,
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mummifying the deceased
and all the other gods
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that you would expect to see
in an ancient Egyptian scene.
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NARRATOR: The carving is of a scene
typical in ancient Egyptian burials,
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but the tomb also has carvings
from a different culture.
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MEREDITH: Down here on the sarcophagus,
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the scene is fully Greek.
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This garland and the head of these figures
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are 100% Greek.
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NARRATOR: The tomb is a strange mix
of Greek and Egyptian styles.
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It's a clue to the true identity
of Cleopatra
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and the Egypt she ruled.
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In 332 B.C.,
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Alexander the Great conquered Egypt
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and founded the city of Alexandria.
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He paved the way for a new dynasty
of Greek pharaohs,
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called the Ptolemies,
who ruled from the new city.
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300 years later, Cleopatra, aged just 21,
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defeated her younger brother in battle
to become Queen of Egypt.
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Despite her Greek heritage,
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she embraced Egyptian traditions,
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wearing the dress and crown
of the pharaohs of old
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and becoming the first of her line
to learn the Egyptian language.
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This tomb is testament to the mix
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of the two ancient cultures
Cleopatra personified.
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MEREDITH: This iconography
forms a unique image
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that reflects the culture of Alexandria
at the time of Cleopatra,
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a mixture of Greece and Egypt.
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NARRATOR: Cleopatra ruled
from this multicultural capital
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for 20 years.
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But according to ancient sources,
in 30 B.C.,
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she committed suicide
as the last ever pharaoh.
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The clues to Cleopatra's many riddles,
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the reason for her downfall and death,
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and the location of her tomb
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can be found in the ruins
of this hybrid Greek and Egyptian world.
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In Philadelphia,
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an ancient city that dates
from the reign of Cleopatra,
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Egyptian archaeologist Basem Gehad
and his team have set up camp.
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BASEM: So this is the site
of ancient Philadelphia.
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It's very hot, windy like today, and sand.
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It's not the best-case scenario
to live in.
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NARRATOR: Every year,
Basem and his team spend weeks at a time
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living in tents
in the middle of this barren desert.
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Despite the basic conditions, for Basem,
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it's a dream come true.
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BASEM: I've dreamed since I was a child
to be an archaeologist and Egyptologist.
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For this reason,
I have this kind of full energy
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to stand for many, many, many days
and weeks in desert,
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nonstop work and nonstop excavation.
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NARRATOR: When Basem
excavated here last season,
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the team found a complex of vaulted tombs.
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Inside one of the tomb chambers,
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set back from the main gallery,
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they discovered thin strips
of painted wood,
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reassembled to reveal
a beautiful painting.
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The team also found
fragments of a human skull...
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And some diamond-patterned linen.
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Remarkable traces of a hidden necropolis
below the sand
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and the people who lived here
around 2,000 years ago.
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Basem hopes to find
an even bigger catacomb this year,
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to investigate how the Greeks
and ancient Egyptians
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coexisted in Cleopatra's Egypt.
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BASEM (off screen): We have many
catacombs and tombs and graves
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in this area that could give us
information about the Greeks
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and Egyptians who were
living here together.
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NARRATOR: But there is one big problem:
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the site covers an area
larger than 800 football fields
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with no records
of where the catacombs lie buried.
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It's a tough call to decide
where to start digging.
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BASEM: It's just like as if
you are searching for a needle
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in this big desert.
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NARRATOR: Basem finds
some banks of raised sand
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that match features he's spotted
on satellite imagery of the site.
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Together, they could be
evidence of a large tomb
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hidden beneath the desert floor.
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The team mark out a trench
and start digging.
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They move tons of sand
under the hot desert sun,
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and by noon, Basem's hunch pays off.
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BASEM: So we just found this staircase,
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stairs that was rock cut in the rock,
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in the mother rock,
and it leads to the entrance.
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We are thinking that it is a catacomb.
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NARRATOR: What treasures lie
beyond the stairway?
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What could they reveal
about Cleopatra's world
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and the downfall of ancient Egypt?
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BASEM: If we were super lucky,
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we will have, like, an intact catacomb.
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Maybe we could find the mummies.
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NARRATOR: The team works all afternoon
to clear sand from the entrance.
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Finally, there's enough room
for Basem to take a look
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inside the tomb.
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BASEM: I can see a lot of remains
of mummy and skeletons.
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NARRATOR: Basem crawls
through the narrow opening in the rock.
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BASEM: It's a unique example
that we have here.
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Animal offerings everywhere.
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NARRATOR: Inside lies
a huge catacomb complex
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with 11 burial niches.
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In front of one,
Basem discovers an intact amphora
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left above the sand.
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(mysterious music)
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BASEM: This kind of jars, wine jars,
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were used on the turn
of the Ptolemaic to the Romans,
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which is the date of the Cleopatra reign.
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NARRATOR: It is evidence
the catacomb is Greek
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and dates to Cleopatra's time.
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Now, the team must excavate
the entire complex.
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Apart from a few pieces
of pottery above the sand,
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it is almost entirely buried.
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BASEM: We are very, very happy
and extremely excited
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to see what could be below the sand.
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NARRATOR: They begin to clear
the first burial niche.
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BASEM: It's really tough work
working in this condition.
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The humidity is absolutely high.
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It's really hot summer, and then dust
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and the remains of organic materials,
and it's really hard.
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NARRATOR: The team carefully removes
several cubic feet of sand
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from the grave pit.
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BASEM: This is the most exciting part
because you never know.
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When you remove just two meters,
you could find a wonderful thing.
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The most interesting gift of the season
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could be a few steps
from your digging place.
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♪ ♪
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We have one skull
and two left bones for two left legs.
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Two different persons.
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NARRATOR:
Basem and forensic anthropologist
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Abdullah Abdo Abdullah inspect the skull.
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ABDULLAH: It's round, not sharp.
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For a male.
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BASEM: Yeah.
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NARRATOR: From the bone structure,
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Abdullah can tell it is an adult male.
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ABDULLAH: I want to see his age.
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NARRATOR: The formation
of the skull reveals
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00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,840
the man was about 50 years old
when he died.
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BASEM: The sutures,
which is the intersecting point
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of the different part of the skull,
starts to disappear.
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For us, it's an indication
for a real old man.
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NARRATOR: He was likely the patriarch
of an extended Greek family,
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prospering in the reign of Cleopatra
2,000 years ago.
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00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,080
What more can this catacomb reveal
248
00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,840
about Cleopatra's world?
249
00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,400
After excavating down 3 feet,
250
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:23,960
Basem calls a halt.
251
00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:26,920
BASEM: It seems that it is
very difficult to maneuver
252
00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,480
inside this locali.
253
00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,080
As you see, this court is full of sand
254
00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:33,880
and debris and materials.
255
00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,760
It hinders us
from going farther from work.
256
00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,320
NARRATOR: The huge piles of sand
in the catacomb's main room
257
00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:46,040
make it impossible to reach down
to the deeper levels of the burial niches.
258
00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,920
The team must clear the sand
from the entire room
259
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,160
before they can explore the niches fully.
260
00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,400
But with their excavation permit ending
in just a few days,
261
00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,480
they have to work fast.
262
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,840
♪ ♪
263
00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,600
At Taposiris Magna,
264
00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,720
while her team build ladders
down to the tunnel
265
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,360
and the mysterious void
beneath the Temple,
266
00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:17,200
Kathleen checks in with her crew
at the other end of the site.
267
00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,160
She's tirelessly looking for clues
to Cleopatra's tomb
268
00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,160
across the entire temple complex.
269
00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,360
KATHLEEN: Cleopatra could be anywhere.
270
00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:31,320
I will explore every inch
of this archaeological site,
271
00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,720
and I'm sure I will find her.
272
00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:36,800
NARRATOR: To the east of the temple,
273
00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,480
next to an ancient lighthouse,
274
00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,080
Kathleen has already discovered
a huge necropolis
275
00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,480
from Cleopatra's time.
276
00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,040
Last year, in a catacomb here,
277
00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,920
her team made an extraordinary discovery.
278
00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:58,120
While digging, the remains of a man
emerged from the earth.
279
00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,320
In his mouth, they found a golden tongue,
280
00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,760
cast from pure 22-carat gold.
281
00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,400
The tongue may have been
meant to allow the deceased
282
00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,280
to speak with the gods,
283
00:17:09,360 --> 00:17:11,880
and it's only one
of four mummies like this
284
00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,360
the team have found in the necropolis,
285
00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,760
a sign this is a burial site of the elite.
286
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:25,000
KATHLEEN: We want to understand
who are those who were buried here,
287
00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:29,080
and what can we learn from this,
288
00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,160
related to my search?
289
00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,880
NARRATOR: And Kathleen has
a new lead in this necropolis:
290
00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,000
an intact tomb.
291
00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:42,160
KATHLEEN: You can't express
the excitement waiting to see.
292
00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,800
It's been hidden,
it's been hidden for so long,
293
00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,760
and then we're here.
294
00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,080
NARRATOR: First, the team needs to remove
295
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,240
the heavy limestone blocks
that seal the burial.
296
00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,080
KATHLEEN: Put it in the same position.
No, here.
297
00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,480
The same position. We put it here.
298
00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,640
NARRATOR: Suddenly, one of the workers
spots something in the sand.
299
00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,600
KATHLEEN: What is that?
300
00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,400
JUAN: It's metal, no? It's bronze.
301
00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,120
NARRATOR: Kathleen
and fellow archaeologist Juan Padilla
302
00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,280
inspect the find more closely.
303
00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:20,160
KATHLEEN: It seems
it has some indentation.
304
00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,600
JUAN: Yes, and some decorations. Yes.
305
00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,480
KATHLEEN: This is a part of a clothing.
306
00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,440
It is a fibula.
307
00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,640
NARRATOR: A fibula is a small brooch
308
00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,160
people used to fasten their robes
in ancient times.
309
00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,160
It was common around the time
Cleopatra's rule ended,
310
00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,920
evidence this tomb could date
to the very last chapter of her reign.
311
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,800
Can this tomb reveal new information
about Cleopatra's last days
312
00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,200
and her hidden burial chamber?
313
00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,880
KATHLEEN: It's a very good sign.
And this is on the top.
314
00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,680
So we have to see after we open
what is inside the tomb.
315
00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:01,920
NARRATOR: For over an hour,
in searing temperatures,
316
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,200
the team haul tons of sand
out of the tomb.
317
00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:06,840
JUAN: Oh, wow!
318
00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:13,520
♪ ♪
319
00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,320
NARRATOR: Below the first
set of limestone blocks,
320
00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,720
they unearth part of a skeleton.
321
00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,560
But it's unlike anything
they've seen before.
322
00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,560
KATHLEEN: Oh, my God!
323
00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,800
NARRATOR: Kathleen and Juan
examine the skeleton
324
00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,280
as it emerges from its tomb.
325
00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:37,560
KATHLEEN: We believe he's a man
326
00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,880
because the structure of the bones
are thick.
327
00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:45,440
It looks like a heavy or a strong man.
328
00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:50,440
NARRATOR: The man's lower leg bones
stick out from below the blocks.
329
00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,160
They are barely visible
and covered in millennia of dirt,
330
00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:58,400
but Kathleen and Juan can tell
this is no ordinary skeleton.
331
00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,600
JUAN: We can see perfectly
how the human remains of
332
00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,840
the skeleton are very well preserved.
333
00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,200
Here, we can see perfectly
the tibia, the ankle,
334
00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,280
but we don't have here in this area
335
00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:12,600
any sign of the feet.
336
00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,560
It's totally clear.
337
00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,160
NARRATOR: The man's skeleton
is well preserved,
338
00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,880
but his feet have been cut off
clean at the ankle.
339
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,920
KATHLEEN: Oh, my God! They cut his feet!
340
00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,280
NARRATOR: Why did someone
mutilate this man's body?
341
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,440
KATHLEEN: The first thought
is a kind of punishment.
342
00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,160
NARRATOR: It's possible
this man had both his feet
343
00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,680
chopped off when he was alive.
344
00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:41,880
What had he done to warrant
such a cruel punishment?
345
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,040
KATHLEEN: We need to find out.
346
00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:46,160
I'm really anxious
to remove all the stones
347
00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:49,240
and see who he was.
348
00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,160
This is not normal!
349
00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,480
NARRATOR: The team remove the final blocks
350
00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,920
and clear the sand to expose
the upper part of the skeleton.
351
00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,320
JUAN: We can see something, Kathleen.
352
00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:03,800
KATHLEEN: Oh!
353
00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:05,680
JUAN: I think that is part of the skull.
354
00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,440
KATHLEEN: Wow. Oh!
355
00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,800
I'm so happy.
356
00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,960
NARRATOR:
Kathleen investigates the skeleton
357
00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,400
as it emerges from under the sand.
358
00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:18,200
KATHLEEN: You see under his chin,
359
00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,760
you will find signs of mummification.
360
00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:27,560
As well the eye and in the front,
the forehead.
361
00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,360
His feet has been cut,
362
00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,320
but at the same time,
which is really strange,
363
00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,360
is that he has been mummified.
364
00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,720
NARRATOR: Mummification was an act
of respect for the deceased,
365
00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,120
designed to keep the body intact,
ready for the afterlife,
366
00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,520
the ultimate reward
for a virtuous life lived.
367
00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,560
Yet Kathleen believes this man was
mutilated as a punishment.
368
00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,520
KATHLEEN: Maybe he belongs
to a powerful family
369
00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,760
or he had an important position,
370
00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,200
but at the end, he got punished.
371
00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,880
NARRATOR: This perplexing burial
could be a sign of trouble
372
00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,320
in the time of Cleopatra,
373
00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,680
even a clue to her downfall.
374
00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,440
It's all the more reason
375
00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,720
Kathleen must continue her search
for Cleopatra's tomb.
376
00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,920
KATHLEEN: Every time we move forward,
we excavate this site,
377
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,040
we find more and more
archaeological evidence
378
00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:21,480
that makes us understand
that we are close.
379
00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,720
NARRATOR: At the necropolis
of ancient Philadelphia,
380
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,880
Basem and his team have
painstakingly removed
381
00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:41,360
several tons of sand from a catacomb
dating to the time of Cleopatra.
382
00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,840
BASEM: So what we have progressed
until now in this catacomb
383
00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,560
is cleaning the main court
384
00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,240
and one of the grave cuts, the locali.
385
00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,040
NARRATOR: Discoveries in the grave cuts
386
00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:56,760
might reveal more evidence
of trouble in her reign.
387
00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,560
BASEM: So based on the status
of the catacomb,
388
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,680
it seems that the tomb raiders
were here before
389
00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,080
and most of the grave cuts were disturbed.
390
00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:11,000
NARRATOR: Tomb raiders looted
this tomb in ancient times,
391
00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:12,960
taking its gold and precious artifacts.
392
00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,440
BASEM: Their only goal was to find
wonderful objects.
393
00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:21,000
So they left some of the things.
394
00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,520
It seems for them not interesting,
but for us, it's really interesting.
395
00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,200
NARRATOR: Basem inspects the items
the robbers left behind.
396
00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,960
BASEM: We can see offerings
from the family of the deceased.
397
00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,080
This is a flask made from glass.
398
00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:39,720
It's maybe used for perfumes.
399
00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:45,120
So it seems that offerings were
just laid out in front of the locali,
400
00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:49,200
which fits very well with the beliefs of
401
00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,040
the ancient Egyptians.
402
00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:53,120
NARRATOR: The ancient Egyptians believed
403
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,200
the deceased needed these offerings
for the afterlife.
404
00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,480
Finding them in a Greek tomb
could be evidence
405
00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,560
the Greeks here embraced
Egyptian belief and custom,
406
00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:07,280
just like Cleopatra
in her capital, Alexandria.
407
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:10,800
BASEM: We will keep looking here
inside this catacomb.
408
00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:11,920
And we will search,
409
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,080
we continue our search
all over this necropolis.
410
00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,000
NARRATOR: With only a few days
of his dig season left,
411
00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,560
Basem decides to focus his efforts
412
00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,040
on the area just outside the tomb complex.
413
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,200
It's not long until his decision pays off.
414
00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,760
BASEM (in Arabic):
You want me to come to you?
415
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,160
Let's go and see this group over here.
416
00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:37,440
What's going on?
417
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:44,200
(speaking Arabic)
418
00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,280
NARRATOR: Barely visible in the sand,
419
00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:50,480
a thin strip of wood
with faint traces of paint.
420
00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:52,080
BASEM (in English): Oh, wow!
421
00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,520
(mysterious music)
422
00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,440
BASEM: It's a breathtaking moment for me.
423
00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,160
NARRATOR: In the sands of the necropolis,
424
00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,880
Basem has made an incredible discovery.
425
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,400
BASEM: So what we are looking at here
426
00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,600
is one fragment of a mummy portrait
427
00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:20,560
that is painted with the wax,
the encaustic technique.
428
00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:26,360
NARRATOR: Greek artists from Alexandria
travelled south through Egypt,
429
00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:27,840
along the Nile.
430
00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:35,280
People commissioned their portraits
from the artists,
431
00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:37,760
who painted with hot beeswax onto wood.
432
00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,640
The lifelike portraits
were unlike anything
433
00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:46,920
in Egyptian art.
434
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,880
People hung their colorful portraits
in their homes.
435
00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,200
When they died,
the portrait was put on their face
436
00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,520
before they were mummified,
in the hope their spirit
437
00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,440
would remember what they looked like
in the afterlife.
438
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,800
BASEM: It's really a masterpiece.
439
00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:06,920
NARRATOR: Despite the layers of dust,
440
00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,680
Basem can clearly make out
the face of the woman it depicts.
441
00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:15,240
BASEM: We can realize
all the detail, the hairs, eyes,
442
00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,480
nose, lips, and even the necklace,
443
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,840
the green necklace from emerald,
and the tunic,
444
00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,360
the Greek tunic
which is painted in purple.
445
00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,280
NARRATOR: It's a beautiful portrait
of a Greek woman
446
00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:32,600
who lived and died here at Philadelphia
around the time of Cleopatra,
447
00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,360
some 2,000 years ago.
448
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,400
Basem thinks tomb robbers
must have broken the fragile painting
449
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:42,880
when they tried to remove it
from the grave.
450
00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:47,360
BASEM: When it's broken
into small fragments or slides,
451
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,560
for them, it's useless.
452
00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,680
They could not sell it to the market,
453
00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,080
so most probably,
they left it at the site.
454
00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,040
For us, it's a treasure.
455
00:26:56,120 --> 00:26:59,000
I can't see any kind of object
456
00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,720
that could be more beautiful
than this face.
457
00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:09,440
NARRATOR: It's a great discovery,
everything Basem has hoped for.
458
00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,400
BASEM (off screen):
The aim of the mission,
459
00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:15,440
we can say that it's accomplished.
460
00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,720
This single piece makes
our work here worth it,
461
00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:23,240
because it's--in itself, it's unique.
462
00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,520
NARRATOR: It's possible
that Cleopatra, too,
463
00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,400
would have been buried
with a life-like portrait of herself.
464
00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,800
BASEM: We know very well
that ancient Egyptians
465
00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:38,160
were very keen in keeping
the picture of the deceased.
466
00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:42,760
It seems that the tradition continued
during the Ptolemaic period.
467
00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:46,280
They kept the same tradition,
but they did it their own way,
468
00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:48,640
using a new tradition of paintings.
469
00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,040
And then they put this
470
00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:54,360
wonderful, amazing, awesome portraits
on the face,
471
00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,000
and then they wrapped
the whole mummy in an Egyptian style.
472
00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:02,920
NARRATOR: Basem's discovery suggests
that even outside Alexandria,
473
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,880
the Greeks of her reign
followed Cleopatra's example
474
00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,640
and embraced Egyptian customs.
475
00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,640
And Cleopatra's respect for the old ways
476
00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,120
won her favor with the Egyptians,
477
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,280
allowing her to rule over a prosperous,
478
00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:19,640
multicultural empire.
479
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,040
BASEM (off screen): Both nations lived
480
00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:25,560
very harmoniously together,
481
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:30,000
in a very mixed community,
482
00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:31,480
mixed culture.
483
00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:36,000
NARRATOR: The Greeks and Egyptians
lived together in harmony.
484
00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,760
So what was causing trouble
in the time of Cleopatra?
485
00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,760
What led to her downfall?
486
00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:49,920
♪ ♪
487
00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,160
In Alexandria,
488
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,560
Meredith has come
to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina,
489
00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,840
the city's modern library, to investigate.
490
00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,280
MEREDITH: This is the modern
library of Alexandria.
491
00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:07,160
It's somewhere near
where the ancient library would have been,
492
00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,720
and the ancient library
of Alexandria was renowned
493
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,560
through the entire Mediterranean world
as the biggest center of knowledge.
494
00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,400
It had the most amount
of books ever collected.
495
00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:21,440
NARRATOR: But it's not an ancient book
that grabs Meredith's attention.
496
00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:23,920
It's an unusual granite bust.
497
00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:26,760
MEREDITH: This statue is remarkable.
498
00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:30,800
It's got this Greek style haircut,
499
00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:35,280
like a fringe that comes down,
and it's wispy and curly.
500
00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:38,080
So to me, this is--
this is a very Greek face.
501
00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:42,120
And then on top of it is a traditional
ancient Egyptian headdress
502
00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,400
for kings called the Nemes headdress.
503
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,360
NARRATOR: The Nemes is
a folded piece of striped cloth
504
00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:51,920
covering the head and shoulders.
505
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,920
Worn with a crown,
it identifies the wearer
506
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,280
as a pharaoh.
507
00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,960
MEREDITH: So, this is the headdress
of an Egyptian king
508
00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:03,280
with the face of a Greek man.
509
00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:06,240
This is most probably Caesarion,
510
00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,400
the son of Cleopatra
511
00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,560
and a direct product
of her relationship with Rome.
512
00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:16,200
NARRATOR: Caesarion was the son
of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar,
513
00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,040
the great dictator of Rome.
514
00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,720
The two began an affair
when Cleopatra was fighting
515
00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:24,760
a bitter civil war with her brother,
516
00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:29,520
against their dying father's wish
for them to rule together.
517
00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,000
When Caesar and his army
came to Alexandria,
518
00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,480
Cleopatra seized her chance
to win a powerful ally
519
00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:39,360
and Egypt's crown.
520
00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,840
As her brother's army patrolled the city,
521
00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,160
Cleopatra smuggled herself
into Caesar's chambers,
522
00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:50,720
rolled in a rug, to meet him face to face.
523
00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:56,840
Entranced, Caesar helped Cleopatra
win her throne
524
00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,600
and the two had a son, Caesarion.
525
00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:02,400
But a few years later,
526
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:06,000
Roman senators,
fearing Caesar's grip on power,
527
00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:07,520
assassinated him,
528
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:11,320
and his three closest allies
took control of Rome.
529
00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,840
Cleopatra met with one of them,
Mark Antony,
530
00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,520
making her entrance on a golden boat.
531
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:24,320
They formed a new alliance
and the two fell in love.
532
00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:28,480
MEREDITH: Cleopatra has been painted
as some wanton seductress,
533
00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:31,840
but in actuality,
all of her moves were strategic.
534
00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:36,400
She was a smart woman
who understood geo-politics
535
00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,240
and understood Egypt
and the Mediterranean world.
536
00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:42,720
She made alliances
based on who was in power
537
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,000
and who could help her secure the throne.
538
00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:48,840
NARRATOR: Egypt was stable.
539
00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,840
Cleopatra was firmly in control,
540
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,960
backed by a strong alliance
with Mark Antony and Rome.
541
00:31:56,040 --> 00:32:00,080
But just ten years later,
everything came tumbling down.
542
00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,400
What went wrong?
543
00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:09,160
NARRATOR: Meredith investigates
a giant marble bust
544
00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:13,240
just next to the statue
of Cleopatra's son Caesarion.
545
00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,320
MEREDITH: This statue is fantastic.
546
00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:20,120
It's totally not Egyptian.
547
00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,360
Everything about this screams Rome
548
00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:26,560
from the white marble to the hairstyle,
549
00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,800
the delicate portraiture in the face,
the nose, everything.
550
00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:31,880
This is a Roman statue.
551
00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:33,920
This statue is Octavian.
552
00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:39,440
NARRATOR: Octavian was
Julius Caesar's adopted son.
553
00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,560
After Caesar's death,
Octavian moved quickly
554
00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,360
to take power in Rome.
555
00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,480
Mark Antony,
and his alliance with Cleopatra,
556
00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,400
stood in his way.
557
00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,760
MEREDITH: They formed
a huge super-block of power
558
00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:57,280
that Octavian thought was
a direct threat to his rule.
559
00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:02,800
NARRATOR: And Octavian had
a score to settle with Mark Antony.
560
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,000
MEREDITH: Mark Antony was
married to Octavian's sister
561
00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:10,400
while he was having an alliance
and a relationship with Cleopatra.
562
00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:14,640
So this upset him on a political level
and a personal level.
563
00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:19,120
NARRATOR: In 32 B.C., Octavian,
backed by the Roman Senate,
564
00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,280
declared war on Cleopatra.
565
00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,320
Cleopatra's alliance
with Mark Antony had put her,
566
00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:29,120
and Egypt, in the line of fire.
567
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:30,920
MEREDITH: Cleopatra's relationship
with Mark Antony
568
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,320
seemed like a brilliant strategy,
569
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,600
yet it led her into trouble.
570
00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:44,000
NARRATOR: At Taposiris Magna,
571
00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:47,720
the brutally mutilated
but beautifully mummified man
572
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:52,400
may be a victim
of Cleopatra's war with Rome.
573
00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:53,880
KATHLEEN: This time was chaotic.
574
00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:59,280
The first century, it was Cleopatra,
Mark Antony, against Octavian,
575
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:02,480
and maybe he was on the wrong side,
576
00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,360
and this is why he got punished.
577
00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,360
It's a great discovery.
578
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:11,600
NARRATOR: Cleopatra would also be
a victim of this war.
579
00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:15,080
Now, Kathleen is hunting
for her lost tomb.
580
00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,960
She believes it is in a large cavity
581
00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:22,440
she has discovered
beneath the temple here.
582
00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,960
Her team has finally set up
a safe ladder system
583
00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,680
at the top of the dark
and narrow entrance shaft.
584
00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:32,240
Now Kathleen can finally enter.
585
00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,640
It's 25 feet deep.
586
00:34:34,720 --> 00:34:37,560
A fall from this height could kill her.
587
00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,440
KATHLEEN: For some reason
that I don't understand,
588
00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:41,920
I'm not afraid.
589
00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,360
I'm ready to go down.
590
00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,760
(dramatic music)
591
00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:52,000
♪ ♪
592
00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:53,480
(overlapping chatter)
593
00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:57,200
Oh, my gosh. Oh.
594
00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:01,560
(breathing heavily)
595
00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:05,440
The second stairs, it's really unstable.
596
00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:07,280
(overlapping chatter)
597
00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,440
It's moving. Oh, God.
598
00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:18,320
NARRATOR: After a perilous descent,
599
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,000
Kathleen can explore the tunnel.
600
00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:28,080
♪ ♪
601
00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,040
KATHLEEN: This is marvelous!
602
00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,560
We can see clearly
603
00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:44,920
there are some traces
604
00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,160
of painting of ancient time.
605
00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:51,800
We can see plaster here.
606
00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:53,040
It was covered.
607
00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:01,680
The construction of this tunnel
608
00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:05,400
has been made by chisel, by hand.
609
00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:11,600
Hundreds of meters.
610
00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:14,320
NARRATOR: The tunnel is
hundreds of feet long
611
00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:16,920
and cuts through solid bedrock.
612
00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,720
Carving it by hand would have taken years.
613
00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,480
KATHLEEN: But why?
614
00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:27,480
Why they will build this tunnel?
615
00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:31,200
Why they will do such a big effort?
616
00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,640
NARRATOR: Could the huge
amount of time invested to dig
617
00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:38,840
and decorate this tunnel
be evidence that it leads
618
00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:41,480
to Cleopatra's long-lost tomb?
619
00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:46,760
Kathleen ventures deeper.
620
00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:50,360
(Kathleen coughing)
621
00:36:56,720 --> 00:36:59,760
KATHLEEN: I can't breathe.
622
00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:02,800
The air is...
623
00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:04,920
is rotten.
624
00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:07,000
I can't breathe any more here.
625
00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:15,400
KATHLEEN: Oh! Wow.
626
00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:20,920
NARRATOR: In Alexandria,
627
00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:25,120
Meredith investigates what led
to Cleopatra's mysterious death.
628
00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:29,200
In the heart of her capital
are the ancient ruins
629
00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,040
of Kom El Dikka.
630
00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,480
MEREDITH (off screen):
Oh, this is an incredible site.
631
00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:35,240
It's completely preserved.
632
00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:36,720
This is stunning.
633
00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,520
Looking around,
there is no ancient Egypt here.
634
00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:43,200
There is this amphitheater, a public bath,
635
00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,760
broad streets.
636
00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:48,480
Everything about this space is Roman.
637
00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,760
NARRATOR: At Kom el Dikka,
there is no trace
638
00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:55,200
of Cleopatra's mix
of Egyptian and Greek culture.
639
00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:58,440
MEREDITH: It's evidence
of a complete Roman takeover.
640
00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:02,120
NARRATOR: Julius Caesar's
adopted son, Octavian,
641
00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:05,920
was threatened by Cleopatra
and Mark Antony's alliance.
642
00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,680
A year after declaring war,
he made his move.
643
00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:12,880
(dramatic music)
644
00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:17,040
Octavian amassed a vast navy
and attacked Cleopatra
645
00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:19,960
and Mark Antony's combined forces.
646
00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:26,880
The fleets clashed
off the coast of Greece.
647
00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,160
Octavian's navy won the day,
648
00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:32,160
and Mark Antony and Cleopatra each fled.
649
00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:39,160
According to legend,
Mark Antony later heard rumors
650
00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:40,680
Cleopatra was dead,
651
00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:44,880
so he fell on his sword
to join her in the afterlife.
652
00:38:46,720 --> 00:38:48,720
But Cleopatra was alive.
653
00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:53,200
She rushed to his side,
and he died in her arms.
654
00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,240
MEREDITH: Mark Antony's death
was the first step in Octavian
655
00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:01,040
becoming the sole ruler
and dictator of Rome.
656
00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:02,680
But that wasn't enough for Octavian.
657
00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:03,840
He was ambitious.
658
00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:05,600
He wanted to expand the empire,
659
00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,880
and he had his eyes set
on the wealth of Egypt.
660
00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:12,160
NARRATOR: Only Cleopatra stood in his way.
661
00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:14,600
MEREDITH: Cleopatra was a smart ruler.
662
00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:17,680
She was capable,
and despite all the challenges,
663
00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:20,600
she kept Egypt safe and prosperous
for a long time.
664
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:22,200
But she had backed the wrong guy.
665
00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:23,720
Her empire was in tatters,
666
00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:27,560
her lover was dead,
and Rome was breathing down her neck.
667
00:39:27,640 --> 00:39:30,400
Cleopatra, she had run out of options.
668
00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:35,600
NARRATOR: Legends say
Cleopatra took her own life
669
00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:37,960
using the venomous bite of a cobra.
670
00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:43,160
Octavian had invaded Egypt
671
00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:47,200
and now searched
for her son and heir, Caesarion,
672
00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:49,640
but he had fled to the east coast.
673
00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,760
The young king returned to Alexandria
to beg for mercy.
674
00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:04,080
But Octavian ordered his death.
675
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:09,400
The age of the pharaohs was over.
676
00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:12,560
MEREDITH: The death of Mark Antony,
Cleopatra, and her son
677
00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:16,760
gave full uncontested control of Egypt
to Octavian.
678
00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,640
NARRATOR: Octavian became
Rome's first emperor
679
00:40:19,720 --> 00:40:22,440
and took the title Augustus.
680
00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:26,160
Egypt became a province
of his huge empire.
681
00:40:26,240 --> 00:40:29,320
MEREDITH: The Egypt
that had survived for 3,000 years
682
00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:31,080
was no more.
683
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:33,480
NARRATOR: And Cleopatra's body, and tomb,
684
00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:35,560
have never been found.
685
00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:39,800
(mysterious music)
686
00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,000
♪ ♪
687
00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:43,880
At Taposiris Magna,
688
00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:47,040
Kathleen is about 100 feet into the tunnel
689
00:40:47,120 --> 00:40:49,840
when she suddenly spots something
behind the debris
690
00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:53,320
and washed-in rubbish.
691
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:54,880
KATHLEEN: Oh!
692
00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:59,360
I am not able to walk, but I can see--
693
00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:03,080
I can see over there,
there is an entrance!
694
00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:07,400
Oh.
695
00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:11,080
Just trying to see as much as possible.
696
00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:15,040
If we're lucky, we can see
what is beyond the rubbish.
697
00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:20,760
It continues.
698
00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:24,400
You can see clear the tunnel continues.
699
00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:26,400
This is it.
700
00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:29,160
NARRATOR: The entrance
is a tantalizing clue.
701
00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:31,640
Could it lead to an underground tomb?
702
00:41:31,720 --> 00:41:35,560
Perhaps even the lost tomb of Cleopatra?
703
00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:39,080
KATHLEEN: I have a hunch, and I think...
704
00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:44,880
I'm about to solve this mystery
705
00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:46,680
with this door.
706
00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:48,720
Yes.
707
00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:50,720
Oh...
708
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,040
(coughing)
709
00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:55,880
I can't breathe.
710
00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:58,360
NARRATOR: After 30 minutes in the tunnel,
711
00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:02,880
Kathleen is forced to return
to the surface for fresh air.
712
00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:04,440
KATHLEEN: I'm so tired
713
00:42:04,520 --> 00:42:08,640
and my boots are slippery.
714
00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:12,120
(speaking Arabic)
715
00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,440
NARRATOR: A huge mound of rubble
blocks the mystery entrance
716
00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:17,120
inside the tunnel.
717
00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:20,280
Kathleen won't be able to clear it
before her permits run out
718
00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:22,600
in a few days' time,
719
00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:27,920
but the tunnel and the void beyond it
is more promising than she had hoped.
720
00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:30,120
KATHLEEN: After all these years,
721
00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:35,280
you can't imagine the excitement
to go down and really explore.
722
00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:38,400
The tomb of Cleopatra might be down there.
723
00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:43,200
I'm really very proud
of the work we're doing here.
724
00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:46,120
So let's--we applaud
725
00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:49,280
for all my team and all this effort.
726
00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:53,960
NARRATOR: After years of searching,
Kathleen could be closer than ever
727
00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:58,120
to discovering the lost tomb of Cleopatra.
728
00:42:58,200 --> 00:43:00,080
KATHLEEN: These tunnels are leading us
729
00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:04,040
to probably one of the major discoveries
of this century.
730
00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:07,920
It looks intact.
731
00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:10,840
NARRATOR: Every season,
archaeologists unearth
732
00:43:10,920 --> 00:43:13,880
new clues about Egypt's last pharaoh.
733
00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:19,040
Their evidence shows
Cleopatra skillfully ruled
734
00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:22,200
over a hybrid Greek-Egyptian society.
735
00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:28,000
She forged clever alliances
to secure her throne
736
00:43:28,080 --> 00:43:30,560
and keep Egypt safe.
737
00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:34,560
But she got caught up
in Octavian's plans for domination.
738
00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:39,280
As he engulfed Egypt in a violent war,
739
00:43:39,360 --> 00:43:43,280
Cleopatra might have had no other escape
but to commit suicide
740
00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:46,280
and hide her tomb from his wrath.
741
00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:48,680
KATHLEEN: She outsmarted the Romans.
742
00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:52,680
She outsmarted
the most powerful army on Earth,
743
00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:56,080
and I believe they brought her here
744
00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:58,400
and she disappeared at Taposiris Magna.
745
00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:01,480
NARRATOR:
But while Cleopatra was defeated,
746
00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:05,160
her memory lives on
and captures the imagination
747
00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:07,520
to this day.