Cypriot archaeologists have reported a sensational find: a new ancient burial site was found near the resort town of Paphos in the area of the Royal Tombs! Experts attribute the find to 152-150 BC.
Local experts have made the assumption that the tomb belongs to a representative of the ancient Ptolemaic dynasty. In the Hellenistic era, they ruled Egypt. Most likely, Ptolemy Eupator, the son of Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II, who was in power with his father in 152 BC, is buried here. However, the era of his reign was short-lived: he died in 150 BC. There is a version that the young man was poisoned.
The Ptolemies were the rulers of a gigantic region, which included not only the lands of Egypt, but also Syria, Cyprus, as well as the territory of modern Sudan. The capital of the land under their control was Egyptian Alexandria.
A professor at the University of Cyprus said that researchers are aware of the death of Ptolemy Eupator in these parts in 150 BC. The young man at that time was only 12 years old. The symbol of their joint rule with their father, an eagle with two heads, is engraved on the tombstone. According to historical sources, Eupator was deified.
In order to accurately determine the ownership of the tomb, an expert from the Greek Ministry of Culture, architect Michalis Lefatsis, was invited for examination. He claims that the discovery in the area of the Royal Tombs is a real sensation! The fact is that almost all the tombs in Alexandria and Paphos, dating back to the II century BC, have an atrium, which is framed by Doric order columns. In the same tomb, instead of the atrium, a fragment of a rectangular rock was found, on which something very large was once located. Most likely, it was a sculpture.
Lefatsis commented on this find: “In this case, unlike other parts of the acropolis near Paphos and the tombs of Alexandria, we can safely talk about the burial of the king!”. This can also be judged by the presence of a podium on which the tomb was installed.