Was not a beauty

This is what Cleopatra really looked like

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10.12.2024 14:14

In film and television, Cleopatra was played by screen goddess Elisabeth Taylor, among others. But in real life, the Egyptian queen is said not to have been a classic beauty.

Cleopatra was the last queen of Egypt. She was crowned at the age of just 18 and achieved world fame thanks to her liaison with Caesar, among other things. 

Born in Greece, it is believed that she was an extremely well-educated woman. The daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes is said to have spoken nine languages. Auletes' daughter is said to have spoken nine languages and also received instruction in philosophy and oratory.

Portrait of Cleopatra, discovered in 2009 (Bild: AFP/AFP PHOTO/HO/EGYPTIAN SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES)
Portrait of Cleopatra, discovered in 2009

Her wisdom and education were already praised during her lifetime, but not her appearance. As a recently unearthed bust shows (see pictures below), she seemed to have been rather feisty and grouchy.

Dominican archaeologist Kathleen Martinez (57) has been researching the Cleopatra case for two decades and is convinced that this portrait shows the "real" Cleopatra.

A year ago, she is said to have uncovered secret tunnel systems in ancient Egyptian temples and found coins, oil lamps, ceramics and amulets.

No beauty à la Liz Taylor
"The popular image we know of Cleopatra is of the beautiful queen who was revered by Roman politicians and generals," Clare Pickersgill, deputy director of the Newcastle Archaeological Museum, said back in 2007 after excavating a coin with Cleopatra's face. But research disagrees.

Linsay Allason-Jones, Director of the Archaeological Museum at Newcastle University, says: "The image is very far removed from Liz Taylor and Robert Burton. Roman writers always reported that Cleopatra was intelligent, charismatic and had a beautiful voice. Her beauty, however, was not reported." 

This article has been automatically translated,
read the original article here.

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