Cleopatra

Cleopatra is a redirect to this article. For other meanings see Cleopatra (disambiguation).

Cleopatra VII Philopator (Greek Κλεοπάτρα Θεά Φιλοπάτωρ; * 69 BC in Alexandria; † 12 August 30 BC. ibid.) ruled as the last queen of the Egyptian Ptolemaic Empire and also as the last female pharaoh from 51 BC to 30 BC. In the first four years she ruled first together with her brother Ptolemy XIII, who died in 47 BC at the age of 14, later with other male co-rulers, since under the guarantee of Rome legal regulations provided for a double occupation of the throne.

She wanted to consolidate and expand her empire, but could not achieve this goal against the world power Rome. Therefore, she won the two most powerful Romans of her time, first Gaius Iulius Caesar and after his murder Marcus Antonius, as lovers, and with their help she was able to significantly improve the power position of the Ptolemaic Empire for some time. Antony's defeat by the later emperor Augustus meant the end of her rule. Cleopatra and Antony committed suicide and Egypt became the Roman province of Aegyptus.

The love drama of Antony and Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen's relationship with Caesar, and the mysterious circumstances of her death have fired people's imaginations since antiquity and inspired numerous important writers, composers, painters and, since the 20th century, film producers. The tragedy Antony and Cleopatra (c. 1606/07) by William Shakespeare is considered the main literary work on this subject.

Appearance and pictorial representations

Ancient authors are only vague about Cleopatra's appearance. According to Cassius Dio, she was so beautiful that she could draw the worst misogynist into her nets. However, Cleopatra's beguiling beauty is a late motif, first appearing in Lucan's Pharsalia. Initially, the conjecture was more widespread that she seduced men with the help of aphrodisiac drugs or sorcery, as depicted by Flavius Josephus, for example. Plutarch attempts a more realistic explanation and states that her beauty was not incomparable, rather she made a great impression on men through educated, attractive conversation and fine manners.

In Egyptian representations, for example on temple reliefs, Cleopatra is traditionally depicted schematically without individual features. Only Hellenistic-style portraits therefore provide clues to her appearance. Coins, in particular, come into consideration for this purpose. There are two different types of portraits, issued at times in parallel, which are called "Alexandrian" and "Syrian-Roman" coins according to the places where they were minted.

During Cleopatra's entire reign (51 to 30 BC) the "Alexandrian" type was minted, not only in Alexandria but also, for example, in Ascalon or Damascus. The queen is depicted young, about 20 years old. In profile view Cleopatra is shown with a broad royal diadem in her hair. She wears a bowler hat with a large topknot as well as ear curls and has large eyes, a full mouth above a low round chin. The nose, ending in a slightly overhanging tip, is set off from the smooth forehead with a sharp crease. The physiognomic details take up as recognizable signs the coin portraits of her father Ptolemy XII, in whose succession she presents herself. On the issues of the years 38 and 37 BC from Ascalon, Cleopatra's features are drawn sharper and more emaciated.

The "Syrian-Roman" type was not issued until 37 BC. On a coin of this style, for example, Antonius is depicted on the obverse and Cleopatra with the epithet Thea Neotera ("Younger Goddess") on the reverse. In this type of portrait, the profile of the Ptolemaic woman extends to the base of her breast. The melon hairstyle with tiara and slightly smaller topknot is retained; large eyes and the prominent chin also stand out again. The large curved nose appears here as a hooked nose. Cleopatra has sterner and more masculine features, and her portrait is aligned with that of Antony. Both coin types probably give an approximate idea of Cleopatra's real appearance, despite an idealization of the portrait.

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Egyptian style statue assigned to Cleopatra

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The Venus of the Esquilin, assignment unsecured

In addition, three marble heads have so far been assigned to Cleopatra with some probability - based on the coin portraits:

  • in the Vatican Museums, a life-size marble bust, late Republican, found in 1786 in the Villa Quintilii, on the Via Appia near Rome;
  • in the Altes Museum in Berlin a marble bust with traces of gold, possibly belonging to a relief, late republican, found presumably in Ariccia near Rome, only known in 1976;
  • in the possession of the French art collector Guy Weill Goudchaux a marble bust, made between 34 and 30 BC, only became known to experts in 2005.

In the Berlin and Vatican bust, both of which resemble the Alexandrian coin type, the queen wears a browband, the sign of Ptolemaic pharaonic dignity. Both portraits depict her with a plump face, large eyes, thick lower lip, and pointed chin. Her melon hairstyle has a topknot and ringlets are visible at the base of her forehead. While the Berlin head has a long nose, this is broken off in the Vatican bust.

In the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg there is a basalt statue in the Egyptian style, which has recently been attributed to Cleopatra. The work is stylized and has as its only Greek element a cornucopia held by the ruler.

Archaeologist Bernard Andreae has suggested that an image of Cleopatra can also be seen in the statue of a naked goddess found on the Esquiline in Rome in 1874, the "Venus of the Esquiline".

Cleopatra on a copper coin of "Alexandrian" type from AlexandriaZoom
Cleopatra on a copper coin of "Alexandrian" type from Alexandria

Cleopatra together with Antonius on a silver coin of "Syrian-Roman" type from Antiochia on the Orontes (?)Zoom
Cleopatra together with Antonius on a silver coin of "Syrian-Roman" type from Antiochia on the Orontes (?)

Questions and Answers

Q: Who was Cleopatra VII?


A: Cleopatra VII was the Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt and its last active ruler.

Q: When did Cleopatra live?


A: Cleopatra lived from 69 BC to 10 August 30 BC.

Q: What was Cleopatra's full name?


A: Cleopatra's full name was Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator.

Q: What dynasty did Cleopatra belong to?


A: Cleopatra belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty of Pharaohs.

Q: What happened to Egypt after Cleopatra's death?


A: After Cleopatra's death, Egypt became the Roman province of Aegyptus.

Q: What is the main historical source for Cleopatra's life?


A: The main historical source for Cleopatra's life is Plutarch's Life of Antony.

Q: Who wrote the famous tragedy Antony and Cleopatra?


A: William Shakespeare wrote the famous tragedy Antony and Cleopatra.

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