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Coin Shows Cleopatra's Ugly Truth
BBC ^ | 2-14-2007

Posted on 02/14/2007 8:59:15 AM PST by blam

Coin shows Cleopatra's ugly truth

The images of Antony and Cleopatra are less than flattering

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 Hollywood couple may have perpetrated a Hollywood myth

"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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ancientautopsies; anthiny; antony; antonyandcleopatra; cleopatra; cleopatravii; coin; epigraphyandlanguage; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; truth
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To: Old Professer

I assume that Anthony is the coin on the left based on the description, (Thick Neck, Hooked Nose).


41 posted on 02/14/2007 10:19:50 AM PST by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
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To: blam
Image hosted by Photobucket.com kinda looks like-em to me...

42 posted on 02/14/2007 10:29:02 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: GreenLanternCorps
Given the history of Egypt it is probable that she had an ancestor or two from what's now Ethiopia or The Sudan,

Considering that the Ptolomic Pharoahs were highly incestuous (brother/sister), that assumption might not be justified. See here for the sordid details.

43 posted on 02/14/2007 10:31:00 AM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: PUGACHEV

I agree, Cleopatra by all accounts was not a stunning beauty, but had an aura of sexuality that added to her beauty. Also, she was very intelligent and as Queen and Pharaoh (she was the last Pharaoh), she probably had the best clothes, jewelry and makeup.She was largely of Macedonian (Greek) ancestry being a part of the Ptolemaic dynasty.


44 posted on 02/14/2007 10:43:13 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: Mila

That bust looks like Nefertiti's bust in a museum in Berlin?


45 posted on 02/14/2007 10:44:25 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: blam

I used to have one of those.

Wasn't quite as nice.


46 posted on 02/14/2007 10:44:55 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Cleo is on the right, Tony on the left.


47 posted on 02/14/2007 10:49:53 AM PST by ol' hoghead
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia

"That bust looks like Nefertiti's bust in a museum in Berlin?"

You are correct, sir!


48 posted on 02/14/2007 11:08:12 AM PST by Mila (i)
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To: ikka
You won't catch me posting anything that trite.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
See? I've already made my getaway.
49 posted on 02/14/2007 11:32:38 AM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Wednesday, February 14, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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Cleopatra Found Depicted In Drag
Discovery News | 9-21-2005 | Jennifer Viegas
Posted on 09/22/2005 7:43:04 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1489615/posts


50 posted on 02/14/2007 11:37:50 AM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Wednesday, February 14, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: blam; FairOpinion; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; 49th; ...
Thanks Blam.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

51 posted on 02/14/2007 11:38:18 AM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Wednesday, February 14, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Mila
Nefertiti was an Egyptian and lived in the 14th Century B.C.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertiti
52 posted on 02/14/2007 11:44:43 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
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CLEOPATRA WAS A BLONDE -
(terrific brief history of Egypt's rich past; optimistic democratic future)
TO THE POINT.COM | MARCH 24, 2005 | DR. JACK WHEELER
Posted on 03/26/2005 4:14:24 PM EST by CHARLITE
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1371417/posts


53 posted on 02/14/2007 11:46:22 AM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Wednesday, February 14, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

LOL Diet Pepsi all over keyboard


54 posted on 02/14/2007 11:57:38 AM PST by hydrotech1 (Stay Safe)
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To: Mila

Nefertiti has the best bust in the ancient world.


55 posted on 02/14/2007 12:02:32 PM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Wednesday, February 14, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: darkwing104

Like being Rubenesque, zaftig or a stick insect?


56 posted on 02/14/2007 12:07:05 PM PST by Jaded ("I have a mustard- seed; and I am not afraid to use it."- Joseph Ratzinger)
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To: darkwing104

"Beauty, by who's standard? Ours or those who lived 2,000 years ago. I believe the standards of beauty were quite different."

I doubt the standards were all that different.

Look at Greek statues, male and female. That was their idea of perfect. And the statuary Greeks are hot.

Roman statues went for realism, not idealism, so you get bony nosed Caesars with warts and fat women etc. But the Romans didn't pretend that these statue portraits were pretty, and when they decorated their palaces and orgy-halls, it was was Greek-looking Adonises and Venuses, which are pretty hot.

Nefertiti: pretty hot.

It could be that standards of beauty have changed. But I doubt it. Money and power, of course, have always been beauty enhancers, and being the boyfriend of the Queen of Egypt was a good gig.

"We are very slightly changed from the semi-apes who ranged India's prehistoric clay.
He who drew the longest bow ran his brother down, you know, as we run men down today...
...'Ere they hewed the Sphinx's visage favouritism governed kissage,
even as it does in our day."
- Kipling, "A General Summary"


57 posted on 02/14/2007 12:11:00 PM PST by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: blam

That's interesting.

Maybe that was all that was needed to be a "beauty". Maybe his and her looks in those days were considered attractive.


58 posted on 02/14/2007 12:15:13 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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To: Verginius Rufus

I'm constantly butting heads with the Afrocentrists at work on the Black Cleopatra issue.They even put out a T-Shirt saying"Cleopatra,a Beautiful Black Woman"
I said what y'all need to do is rep Queen Ty,Tut's momma, on a T-shirt.She WAS black.
Sort of reminds me of Maxine Waters.


59 posted on 02/14/2007 12:16:30 PM PST by Riverman94610
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To: skepsel

I do believe you are mixing up Monica Lewinsky with Cleopatra.
BTW,what history books have you been reading and how do I get a hold of some?


60 posted on 02/14/2007 12:18:18 PM PST by Riverman94610
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