The Real Cleopatra | National Geographic

the Egyptian evidence does not give us a

the Egyptian evidence does not give us a personal picture of the Queen we do not

personal picture of the Queen we do not

personal picture of the Queen we do not have hieroglyphs that tell us how she

have hieroglyphs that tell us how she

have hieroglyphs that tell us how she interacted with Caesar what we do have

interacted with Caesar what we do have

interacted with Caesar what we do have from the Egyptian evidence is how she is

from the Egyptian evidence is how she is

from the Egyptian evidence is how she is portrayed as a monarch the temple of

portrayed as a monarch the temple of

portrayed as a monarch the temple of dendera represents cleopatra at the

dendera represents cleopatra at the

dendera represents cleopatra at the height of her power this is probably the

height of her power this is probably the

height of her power this is probably the image of Cleopatra anywhere in Egypt

image of Cleopatra anywhere in Egypt

image of Cleopatra anywhere in Egypt anywhere in the world Cleopatra as the

anywhere in the world Cleopatra as the

anywhere in the world Cleopatra as the mother of caesarean whom she believes is

mother of caesarean whom she believes is

mother of caesarean whom she believes is her rightful heir

her rightful heir

her rightful heir these figures 20 feet high convey a

these figures 20 feet high convey a

these figures 20 feet high convey a message he may have had a Roman father

message he may have had a Roman father

message he may have had a Roman father but cesarean was an Egyptian

but cesarean was an Egyptian

but cesarean was an Egyptian he was first and foremost his mother’s

he was first and foremost his mother’s

he was first and foremost his mother’s air here Cleopatra was telling the world

air here Cleopatra was telling the world

air here Cleopatra was telling the world how she and Egypt had harnessed Rome’s

how she and Egypt had harnessed Rome’s

how she and Egypt had harnessed Rome’s power

she used religion to help make her point

she used religion to help make her point appropriating one of the most important

appropriating one of the most important

appropriating one of the most important Egyptian festivals she portrayed herself

Egyptian festivals she portrayed herself

Egyptian festivals she portrayed herself as the goddess Hathor and Caesar as the

as the goddess Hathor and Caesar as the

as the goddess Hathor and Caesar as the Falken god Horus

these representations of the two were

these representations of the two were united in a ceremony that took place

united in a ceremony that took place

united in a ceremony that took place along a 90 mile stretch of the nine

it revolves around the procession of

it revolves around the procession of sacred boats one stationed here in

sacred boats one stationed here in

sacred boats one stationed here in vendrá the Dendera boat carries the

vendrá the Dendera boat carries the

vendrá the Dendera boat carries the female goddesses the boat from Ed fool

female goddesses the boat from Ed fool

female goddesses the boat from Ed fool carries the male god Horus the mail boat

carries the male god Horus the mail boat

carries the male god Horus the mail boat would depart for Dendera from the temple

would depart for Dendera from the temple

would depart for Dendera from the temple at edfu

these two temples are a mirror of each

these two temples are a mirror of each other they’re essentially joined

other they’re essentially joined

other they’re essentially joined Andrea Kay explores the ed food temple

Andrea Kay explores the ed food temple

Andrea Kay explores the ed food temple its construction was only finished

its construction was only finished

its construction was only finished during Cleopatra’s reign

Cleopatra made very clear that she was

Cleopatra made very clear that she was the goddess Hathor and it was also very

the goddess Hathor and it was also very

the goddess Hathor and it was also very widely implied that Caesar was the King

widely implied that Caesar was the King

widely implied that Caesar was the King Horace

so the statue of the god Horus

so the statue of the god Horus representing Caesar in this case would

representing Caesar in this case would

representing Caesar in this case would have been placed in the bark which is

have been placed in the bark which is

have been placed in the bark which is essentially a mobile shrine carried

essentially a mobile shrine carried

essentially a mobile shrine carried among the people to the river and

among the people to the river and

among the people to the river and transported to dendera where Hathor also

transported to dendera where Hathor also

transported to dendera where Hathor also Cleopatra had the female portion this

Cleopatra had the female portion this

Cleopatra had the female portion this was a piece of propaganda as much as a

was a piece of propaganda as much as a

was a piece of propaganda as much as a religious ritual when Caesar and

religious ritual when Caesar and

religious ritual when Caesar and Cleopatra came together she didn’t

Cleopatra came together she didn’t

Cleopatra came together she didn’t become Roman rather Caesar

become Roman rather Caesar

become Roman rather Caesar took on an Egyptian identity