Cleopatra

This head statue of Cleopatra is dated around 40-30 B.C.E. and she sort of looks like a man; and I am now questioning whether or not I copied and pasted the correct image.  It mentions that this is from Alexandria, and clearly shows that she was not portrayed particularly beautiful.


There are various images of coins of Cleopatra from antiquity, all of them showing her unappealing side profile.  Many were minted in Cyprus circa 50-30 B.C.E.. Another example of her unattractive face!


Cleopatra depicted in a more recent drawing.  Surprise, surprise-she's suddenly Caucasian and her crooked nose problem is fixed. I believe there is a full image of this and it shows her holding a poisonous snake, about to die.


And a movie about Cleopatra!  A 1963 film starring Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra.  Another normal-nosed, pretty Caucasian which would disagree with the coins and statues (and history in general).


       Horace begins by describing Cleopatra as a threat; "the queen preparing mad ruins for the Capitoline and destruction for the government with foul company of shameful men with disease."
In stanza five, Horace compares Cleopatra to a "gentle dove" and a "rabbit" being pursued by a hawk and a swift hunter, respectively.  First she is preparing to destroy Rome then she is referred to as a gentle dove.  She is also called "brave" for handling "fierce serpents" in order that she drinks the "black poison".  The fact that the word "triumph" is used at the end indicates her victory, despite her death.