News reports about tomb of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra

[jkaler48]

If found and unlooted how was Marcus Antonius buried? Buried with Egyptian trappings,
as a Roman General, or a combination of both? Let us see who can come with the best guess (and hope the tomb is really about to be found)

[Theodosius the Great]

I'd be somewhat surprised if he were mummified. I thought Romans were into cremation at this period. Maybe he was simply cremated and had Egyptian rites performed on him (if that doesn't sound contradictory). :|

I'm more interested to see if he had any armor buried along with him, though doubtful. Macedonian Kings and Egyptian Pharoahs would have their armor entombed with them. But not the Romans and not, I assume, Hellenistic Pharoahs. I haven't read about Alexander's armor being interred with his corpse. Oh, well....

~Theo

[Jona Lendering]

I'd be somewhat surprised if he were mummified.

I think the opposite. Faced with the problem of how to rule the republican empire now that monarchy seemed inevitable, a problem created by the destruction of the republic by Caesar, Octavian chose for his famous disappearing act, while Mark Antony and Cleopatra opted for hellenistic kingship (like Caesar). I therefore very much expect Mark Antony to be buried in an unRoman fashion.

BTW, I do not expect that they will find anything worthwhile. It will be one big disappointment.

[texascavtrooper]

I agree I think it's going to be a big disappointment. I would besuprised if they find much of anything left other than a few remanants of stuff. I hope I'm wrong and they do find both of them together!

[Matthew Amt]

The news articles I read were mostly fluff and hype, with precious little reason to conclude that any of the MANY tombs they are investigating would be anyone of note. Now, those are just boiled-down news articles, of course! But haven't they been closing in on Cleopatra and Antony for several years? I wouldn't hold my breath...

Matthew

[PhilusEstilius]

I don't know where this Tomb is said to be located but was not Cleopatra in her Mausoleum or was it her Palace when she died, for if that is the case those buildings would now be under the sea off the coast of Alexandria I would think. Then was it not Augustus who was in the Palace and she was put to death in the Mausoleum and afterwards her son by Caesar came to a sad end to clear up any problems about another Beneficiary.

[Theodosius the Great]

I therefore very much expect Mark Antony to be buried in an unRoman fashion.

As Brian touched upon in his post above, Octavian would have buried Antony in any way he saw fit. If I understand Octavian's propaganda correctly, Antony was portrayed as a victim who was simply bewitched by Cleopatra, hence his declared war against Egypt - not Antony. Now if he buried Antony using foreign customs that would seem to undermine his war propaganda. But maybe you're right. I never read a biography on Antony, he seems so contemptible a character. There's nothing admirable about the man that I can find.

~Theo