Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Cincinnati Lecture: "Encountering the Egyptian Queen in Roman Literature and Propaganda"
Miami professor aims to tell Cleopatra’s full story
Lecture to tackle Roman image of her that endures today.
By Gin A. Ando, Contributing Writer
CINCINNATI — When the name Cleopatra is mentioned, images of a powerful, exotic seductress may come to mind. While that may not necessarily be false, a Miami University professor is looking to flesh out the infamous femme fatale in a presentation working in conjunction with the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal’s exhibit of the Egyptian queen.
Associate professor of classics Denise McCoskey’s presentation, “Cleopatra, a fatale monstrum? Encountering the Egyptian Queen in Roman Literature and Propaganda,” examines Cleopatra’s entire person, both as an able, multicultural ruler of a powerful state as well as how the Augustan propagandists presented her in the midst of Rome’s civil war — an image McCoskey said endures to this day.
“The Romans really elevate the image of Cleopatra,” McCoskey said.
“Her image gets promoted at a particular time. It’s this very carefully constructed image of her — and that’s the only image that survived.
‘‘The point (of the lecture) isn’t to take away the intrigue. I don’t want to make her a boring character.”
Although Cleopatra’s escapades with Julius Caesar and later Marc Antony, the Roman civil war and her snake-induced demise are all well-documented, McCoskey said wartime portrayals of the queen might not have necessarily destroyed her image in the modern day, but they have diluted it to the point the facts are blurred with the propaganda produced to villify her in the eyes of the people during the Roman civil war.
The queen’s personal culture is also something McCoskey said may resonate with U.S. audiences: Born to a Greek family, Cleopatra adapted into Egyptian culture.
“She’s a fascinating figure and available to Americans because of her race,” said McCoskey, regarding her multiethnicity.
The lecture is being delivered in tandem with the tail end of Union Terminal’s exhibit, “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt,” which is showing through Sept. 5, and features artifacts never shown in the U.S. before.
Despite McCoskey’s presentation being in August, she said seeing the exhibit is worth the money and trip to the West End because it draws a distinction between the popular imagery of Cleopatra — including Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal in the eponymous 1963 film— and the historical facts about the last pharaoh of Egypt.
The exhibit itself also stresses the mystery behind Cleopatra’s character and has drawn larger crowds than other exhibits, said Casey Kroger, marketing communications coordinator at Union Terminal.
What: “Cleopatra, a fatale monstrum? Encountering the Egyptian Queen in Roman Literature and Propaganda”
Where: Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati
When: 7:30 p.m. on August 18, 2011
Contact (513) 287-7000; guestservices@
cincymuseum.org
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Ancient Egyptian Gardens
In Ancient Egyptian Gardens, John Bellinger takes a look at the gardens of the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, Assyria, and others. He explains how they were landscaped, the plants that were used, and the relevance of the designs to ancient culture and belief. You will discover what plants were grown, how they were cultivated, and the purposes, other than aesthetics, to which they were put. Finally, the author explains how to create your own Ancient Egyptian Garden, complete with a garden plan and suggested substitute plants for the British climate. This book is extensively illustrated, and a fascinating read for anyone interested in horticulture and ancient history and religion.Saturday, August 13, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Cleopatra VII's Family Tree
Cleopatra VII Philopator queen of Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy XII probably by Cleopatra V, born in year 12 of Ptolemy XII = 70/69, probably in December 70 or early January 69, succeeded Ptolemy XII spring 51, incorporated into the dynastic cult as the Father-loving Goddess Qea Filopatwr, associated on accession as senior ruler with her brother Ptolemy XIII, contested seniority with him in year 3 = 50/49, expelled from Egypt mid 48, restored to supreme rule with support from Julius Caesar c. Kal.-a.d. VIII Id. Nov. AUC 706 = c. 25-30 August 48, associated as senior ruler with her brother Ptolemy XIV as the Father-loving and Sibling-loving Gods, Qeoi FilopatoreV kai Filadelfoi, end of Martius AUC 707 = early January 47, associated as senior ruler with her son Ptolemy XV probably 1 Thoth year 9 = 4 September 44, granted rule of territories in Phoenicia, Syria, and Cilicia by Antony in late 37 or early 36 = year 16 = year 1 of a new era, changing her cult title to the younger father-loving and country-loving goddess: Qea Newtera Filopatwr FilopatriV, proclaimed "queen of kings" at the Donations of Alexandria autumn 34, committed suicide in Alexandria by poison, perhaps administered by cobra-bite, probably on 17 Mesore year 22 = 12 August 30. Egypt was formally annexed to the Roman Republic with effect from 6 Mesore year 1 of Augustus = Kal. Sex. AUC 724 = 1 August 30.
Cleopatra VII's titles as king of Egypt were:Horus & Nomen
Cleopatra VII probably had one liaison and three marriages.
Cleopatra VII first conducted a liaison with C. Julius Caesar, consul and dictator of the Roman Republic, as his umpteenth mistress, began late October AUC 706 = mid August 48, ended by his assassination Id. Mart. AUC 710 = 14 March 44. Cleopatra VII probably had one child by this liaison: Ptolemy XV Caesarion
Cleopatra VII secondly probably married her brother Ptolemy XIII, November AUC 706 = c. September 48. The marriage was ended by his death on a.d. VI Kal. Apr. AUC 707 = 13 January 47.
Cleopatra VII thirdly probably married her brother Ptolemy XIV, end of Martius or Aprilis AUC 707 = c. January 47. The marriage was ended by his death in mid 44.
Cleopatra VII fourthly initiated a liaison at Tarsus in 41 and later probably married as his fifth wife M. Antonius, triumvir of the Roman Republic, probably in 37. The marriage was terminated by his suicide in Alexandria on Kal. Sex. AUC 724 = 1 August 30. She had three children by this liaison and marriage: Alexander Helios, his twin Cleopatra Selene, by whom she had further descendants, and Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Cleopatra at Clone High
Cleopatra Smith: The clone of Cleopatra VII, the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Cleopatra or "Cleo" is a beautiful, intelligent and popular student who is more commonly known as Abe's initial love interest. She is very selfish, snobby, cynical, vain, manipulative and materialistic and cares only about her social image and popularity. She shows very little consideration for other people's feelings and believes herself to be treated like a queen among her peers. She is also an overachiever who frequently covets success in order to fit into her "queen bee" status. She is Abe's girlfriend since the episode Plane Crazy. Cleo is portrayed as seductive, hedonistic and libidinous, as result she is sexually promiscuous and hates it when people make of fun of it, especially when Joan of Arc does it to spite her. Cleo has always been aware that Joan harbors strong feelings for Abe, and will often warn Joan to stay away from him after she and Abe began dating. Despite her arrogance and mean-spirited nature she shows a limited ability of compassion as she willingly gave Joan a makeover to help boost her confidence, she gave up some of her vanity to date the obviously unpopular student Abe Lincoln and consoled JFK when he was sad about Poncey's death. She is 16 years old. Her physical appearance is derived from the wall paintings of Ancient Egyptian women. She is captain of the cheerleading team and is the Campus Life editor for The Tatler in which she interviews students. Voice by actress Christa Miller, the wife of Clone High producer Bill Lawrence.
Julius Caesar: a friend and classmate of the main characters. He speaks in a very aristocratic and theatrical manner. From one of the quotes on the 2003 MTV website he implies that he is in a relationship with Catherine: "By my troth, Catherine the Great, thou hast playéd with mine heart of stone, and yay, I hath returned but not my pyre" and the two are often seen together. He is also a fan of Laurence Olivier. He always wears a laurel wreath on his head. He appears to have an indifferent personality as shown in Litter Kills Literally as he nonchalantly ate popcorn at Poncey's funeral and did not appear to mourn about his death like the other characters nor did he get shocked after JFK had a mental breakdown at the funeral, instead he appeared to be entertained. He is voiced by Neil Flynn.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Being Cleopatra: Sophia Loren
20-year-old Sophia Loren
being Cleopatra (and a slave girl) in Mario Mattoli's 1953 Italian comedy, Due notti con Cleopatra.
being Cleopatra (and a slave girl) in Mario Mattoli's 1953 Italian comedy, Due notti con Cleopatra.Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Becoming Cleopatra: The Shifting Image of an Icon
"The Cleopatra icon has remained powerful over time because she signifies reinvention," Royster declares in this academic study of the Queen of the Nile. Divided into two parts, "Cleopatra and the White Imaginary" and "Cleopatra and African American Counternarratives," Royster's book makes frequent reference to Shakespeare's famous romance, Antony and Cleopatra, in which Cleopatra and Antony's relationship "might be viewed as a central paradigm for the ways that the multiple energy of black women's bodies can be appropriated and sold back to us." But the author's primary goal is to examine how modern film and stage depictions have functioned "as a means of performing and often deconstructing racial and gender subjectivity." Individual chapters, and close shot-by-shot analyses are devoted to the performances of Elizabeth Taylor, Josephine Baker, Queen Latifah, Tamara Dobson and Vivien Leigh. Royster, an associate English professor at DePaul Univ., has crafted a dense but readable book, especially appropriate for women in film courses. Photos.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Friday, July 29, 2011
"Like" Cleopatra's Voice Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/CleopatrasVoice
If you like Being Cleopatra, then become a fan! I would really appreciate your support! http://www.facebook.com/CleopatrasVoice
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Being Cleopatra: Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry (1853-1929) being Cleopatra in 96 performances of Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare at the Princess's Theatre in London from November 18, 1890, until February 21, 1891.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Search for Cleopatra Continues
The Search for Cleopatra Continues
By Past Horizons Adventures in Archeology
The recent radar survey is a significant step forward and was carried out by an Egyptian team, with American expert Dr. Roger Vickers serving as a consultant. The radar revealed three possible areas of interest where a tomb may be located. These locations have been passed to the archaeological team who received the results of the survey with great interest, and will begin excavation of the targets next week.
The most important recent development at Taposiris Magna has been the discovery of a large, previously unknown cemetery outside the temple enclosure.
The expedition has found 27 tombs, twenty of them shaped like vaulted sarcophagi, partly underground and partly above ground. The remaining seven consist of staircases leading to simple burial chambers. Inside these tombs, the team has found a total of ten mummies, two of them gilded. The discovery of this cemetery indicates that an important person, likely of royal status, could be buried inside the temple. It was common for officials and other high-status individuals in Egypt to construct their tombs close to those of their rulers throughout the Pharaonic period. The style of the newly discovered tombs indicates that they were constructed during the Greco-Roman period.
Dr. Martinez stated that the expedition has been excavating a temple at Taposiris Magna dedicated to the goddess Isis, and even discovered coins depicting the face of Alexander the Great.
They have found a number of deep shafts inside the temple, three of which seem to have been used for burials. It is possible that these shafts were the tombs of important people, and the team’s leaders believe that Cleopatra and Mark Antony could have been buried in a deep shaft similar to those already discovered inside the temple.
Dr. Hawass said that the expedition has so far found a beautiful head of Cleopatra, along with 22 coins bearing her image. The statue and coins show her as a beauty, contradicting the idea recently suggested that the Queen was quite ugly.
The finds from Taposiris reflect a charm that could have captured the hearts of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and indicate that Cleopatra was in no way unattractive. Moreover, the features of the sculpted head show no sign of African ancestry, contradicting a recently advanced theory. The team has also found many amulets, along with a beautiful headless statue dating to the Ptolemaic Period. Among the most interesting finds is a unique mask depicting a man with a cleft chin which bears some similarity to known portraits of Mark Antony himself.
Click here to read The Search for Cleopatra Continues from the blog Past Horizons Adventures in Archeology
UPDATE: The blog Rogue Classicism responds to this article: "As presented, that item makes it sound like digging is actually going on right now at Taposiris Magna and — apparently relying on a ‘press release’ from Zahi Hawass’ site (someone please tell me if I err in this regard) — talks about such novelties as ground penetrating radar surveys being done by Richard Vickers and identifying three places of interest. Sadly, however, it has to be pointed out that the press release actually comes from April 2009 (we mentioned it in a previous post, of course: Cleopatra’s Tomb Again!!) and once again we might wonder why Dr Hawass never bothered to put dates on items. Even if we forgive that, however, we wonder why Past Horizons didn’t notice the November 2009 date of the Heritage Key video (via youtube) which they also link to"
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Cleopatra Through the Artist's Eye: Thomas Ridgeway Gould
Cleopatra
Thomas Ridgeway Gould
1873
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
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