Cleopatra

[The Monkey God]

Anyone know anything about Cleopatra coins?

[The Monkey God]

I found this on the BBc webiste, anf thought it might be an interesting topic of discussion.............

Coin shows Cleopatra's ugly truth

Antony and Cleopatra, one of history's most romantic couples, were not the great beauties that Hollywood would have us believe, academics have said. A study of a 2,000-year-old silver coin found the Egyptian queen, famously portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor, had a pointed chin, thin lips and sharp nose.

Her Roman lover, played by Richard Burton, had bulging eyes, thick neck and a hook nose.

The tiny coin was studied by experts at Newcastle University. The size of a modern 5p piece (18mm or 0.7in), the artefact from 32BC was in a collection belonging to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, which is being researched in preparation for the opening of a new Great North Museum.

Clare Pickersgill, the university's assistant director of archaeological museums, said: "The popular image we have of Cleopatra is that of a beautiful queen who was adored by Roman politicians and generals.

"Recent research would seem to disagree with this portrayal, however."

The university's director of archaeological museums, Lindsay Allason-Jones, said: "The image on the coin is far from being that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. "Roman writers tell us that Cleopatra was intelligent and charismatic, and that she had a seductive voice but, tellingly, they do not mention her beauty.

"The image of Cleopatra as a beautiful seductress is a more recent image."

The silver denarius coin would have been issued by the mint of Mark Antony.

On one side is the head of Mark Antony, bearing the caption "Antoni Armenia devicta" meaning "For Antony, Armenia having been vanquished".

Cleopatra appears on the reverse of the coin with the inscription "Cleopatra Reginae regum filiorumque regum", meaning "For Cleopatra, Queen of kings and of the children of kings".

The university hopes more forgotten treasures will come to light before the Great North Museum opens in 2009. The Roman coin is on display in Newcastle University's Shefton Museum from 14 February.

[The Monkey God]

And this.........

Dig 'may reveal' Cleopatra's tomb

<P class=first>Archaeologists are to search three sites in Egypt that they say may contain the tomb of doomed lovers Anthony and Cleopatra. Excavation at the sites, which are near a temple west of the coastal city of Alexandria, is due to begin next week.

Teams working in the area said the recent discovery of tombs containing 10 mummies suggested that Anthony and Cleopatra might be buried close by.

The teams also found a bust of Cleopatra and coins carrying her image.

The archaeologists from Egypt and the Dominican Republic have been excavating at the temple of Taposiris Magna for the last three years.

'Charm'

There they discovered a series of deep shafts in which it is thought that Anthony and Cleopatra might be buried, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said in a statement.

Alongside the coins and bust of Cleopatra, a mask believed to belong to Mark Anthony was also found.

The temple was built during the reign of King Ptolemy II (282-246BC).

Anthony and Cleopatra committed suicide in 30BC after losing the Battle of Actium.

Zahi Hawass, Egypt's chief archaeologist, said the coins found at the temple refuted "what some scholars have said about Cleopatra being very ugly".

"The finds from Taposiris reflect a charm... and indicate that Cleopatra was in no way unattractive," he said.

A team of experts from Newcastle University said two years ago that another set of coins showed the beauty of Anthony and Cleopatra portrayed in popular culture to have been exaggerated.

[bigjarofwasps]

Not really my thing, but an interesting thread none the less.

I can only conclude that...

"In his Pensées, philosopher Blaise Pascal contends that Cleopatra's classically beautiful profile changed world history: "Cleopatra's nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed"

Must be the first recorded case of beer goggles? :cheers:

[The Monkey God]

There seems to be very limited information on the net about Cleopatra coins, except values, which as one would expect varie wildly depending on the condition. There is however, loads of threads concerning whether she was `fit` or not.

I can only say that if she looked anything like this, well she gets my vote!!!

Edited October 12, 2009 by The Monkey God

[bigjarofwasps]

Interesting currently on Sky, Tony Robinson has a series about the Romans, today episode was about Julius Caesar. Its well documented about his liaisons, with the young Cleopatra. One of the experts passed comment on the images on coins & statues of her, basically it appears that the `myth` if thats the right word about her beauty, was in fact supposed to represent her charm, which is what captivated the guys. Now in my mind beauty & charm would have to come as a full package ?