SECRETS OF THE DEAD: Cleopatra's Lost Tomb

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 / This film is no longer available on demand

—Discover Whether an Amateur Archaeologist’s Theory Leads to the Lost Tomb of the Egyptian Queen—

In the annals of world history, few names are as recognizable as Cleopatra, queen of ancient Egypt. Cleopatra VII was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last pharaoh of Egypt. For centuries, archeologists have been searching for her tomb. But there have been very few clues about the remains of this powerful ruler. But could this be about to change? SECRETS OF THE DEAD "Cleopatra’s Lost Tomb,” follows Kathleen Martinez, a criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic turned maverick archaeologist, as she embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of Cleopatra’s final resting place.

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North gate entrance to Taposiris Magna temple ruins.

Courtesy of Paul Olding

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Main contributor Kathleen Martinez, who is searching for Cleopatra's lost tomb.

Courtesy of Paul Olding

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Wide aerial shot of Taposiris Magna temple ruins.

Courtesy of Paul Olding

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Part of tomb at the necropolis discovered by Kathleen Martinez.

Courtesy of Paul Olding

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Close up of mummies and skeletons discovered at the tomb in the necropolis.

Courtesy of Paul Olding

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Kathleen Martinez, with the discovered Stela Magnaand its Goddess Isis link.

Courtesy of Paul Olding

Drawing upon her 20 years as a courtroom attorney, Martinez has used that experience to turn detective and reopen the case of Cleopatra's death.

“I don’t think 100 percent as an archaeologist, because my first training is as a criminal lawyer, so I took Cleopatra as a case,” says Martinez.

Scholars have long believed that Cleopatra was buried in the ancient city of Alexandria which sank into the Mediterranean more than a thousand years ago. But Martinez believes Cleopatra had other plans for her body. Martinez studied ancient Roman texts and investigated 21 sites where Cleopatra could be buried, but only one matched her theory.

“She was a goddess,” says Martinez. “I look around where all the archaeologists have excavated, and I immediately knew they were searching in wrong places.”

Instead, Martinez went searching at a temple complex dating from the time of Cleopatra and dedicated to the ancient Eqyptian god Osiris and his wife the goddess Isis. But will her theory lead her to the lost tomb? Working with a team of Egyptians and local tribesmen, can the self-taught archaeologist prove the experts wrong? If she is right, Martinez will have solved one of Egyptology’s greatest mysteries and established herself as one of the most important archaeologist in history.

This film is no longer available on demand.

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Credits:

A production of Dragonfly Film and Television Production, LTD and THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET in association with Channel 4 and Endemol Shine International. Narrator is Jay O. Sanders. Director/writer is Paul Olding. Producer is Crispin Green. Executive in charge for WNET is Stephen Segaller. Executive producer for WNET is Steve Burns. Supervising producer for WNET is Stephanie Carter.