London, April 20 : Zahi Hawass, Egypt's top archaeologist, has claimed that the tombs of legendary Queen Cleopatra and her Roman lover Antony have been found.

According to a report in the Telegraph, Hawass has claimed that the tombs of the two lovers are located at the Toposiris Magna temple in Egypt, where significant findings have been made.

Ahead of the start of excavations, Hawass exhibited 22 coins, 10 mummies, an alabaster head and a fragment of a mask with a cleft chin as evidence that the site, a 2,000-year-old temple to the god Osiris, is likely to hold further treasures.

He believes that the Toposiris Magna temple, 30 miles from Egypt's ancient seaside capital of Alexandria, contains the tomb of the doomed lovers that has been shrouded in mystery for so long.

"In my opinion, if this tomb is found it will be one of the most important discoveries of the 21st century because of the love between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and because of the sad story of their death," he said.

Mark Antony and Cleopatra challenged Caesar Augustus for control of the Roman Empire more than two millenia ago.

Their armies were defeated and rather than submit to capture, the two lovers committed suicide - Mark Antony by his sword, Cleopatra with a poisonous asp.

The Roman historian Plutarch said Caesar allowed the two to be buried together, but their tomb was never found.

The claim by Hawass, Egypt's antiquities chief, is the latest spectacular announcement by the archaeologist. (ANI)