Cleopatra's mother 'was African'
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mint...@hotmail.com
Mar 17, 2009, 9:53:21 AM3/17/09
to BeyondtheNile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/also_in_the_news/7945333.stm
Cleopatra, the last Egyptian Pharaoh, renowned for her beauty, was
part African, says a BBC team which believes it has found her sister's
tomb.
Queen Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy, the Macedonian general
who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great.
But remains of the queen's sister Princess Arsinoe, found in Ephesus,
Turkey, indicate that her mother had an "African" skeleton.
Experts have described the results as "a real sensation."
The discovery was made by Hilke Thuer of the Austrian Academy of
Sciences.
"It is unique in the life of an archaeologist to find the tomb and the
skeleton of a member of Ptolemaic dynasty," she said.
"That Arsinoe had an African mother is a real sensation which leads to
a new insight on Cleopatra's family and the relationship of the
sisters Cleopatra and Arsinoe."
They lived at a turbulent time when the Roman empire was extending its
power across the Mediterranean.
Cleopatra established alliances with the Roman leader Julius Caesar
and, after his assassination, with his political supporter, General
Mark Antony, to whom she was married.
"Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony - they are all iconic figures
from history," said archaeologist Neil Oliver who presents the BBC
documentary.
"It's almost impossible to remember they were real people and not the
semi-mythical figures portrayed by Richard Burton and Elizabeth
Taylor. It was like a splash of cold water in the face to be
confronted by them as human beings, " he continued.
"When I stood in the lab and handled the bones of Cleopatra's blood
sister - knowing that in her lifetime she touched Cleopatra and
perhaps Julius Caesar and Mark Antony as well - I felt the hairs go up
on the back of my neck."
"Suddenly these giant figures from history were flesh and blood," said
archaeologist Neil Oliver.
There was plenty of sibling rivalry between Princess Arsinoe and her
powerful sister Cleopatra - many believe the queen ordered Mark
Anthony to murder her sister.
The film examines the life of Cleopatra - who had an affair with
Julius Caesar - including her murderous intentions towards Arsinoe.
Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer is on BBC One at 9pm on 23 March 2009.
Cleopatra, the last Egyptian Pharaoh, renowned for her beauty, was
part African, says a BBC team which believes it has found her sister's
tomb.
Queen Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy, the Macedonian general
who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great.
But remains of the queen's sister Princess Arsinoe, found in Ephesus,
Turkey, indicate that her mother had an "African" skeleton.
Experts have described the results as "a real sensation."
The discovery was made by Hilke Thuer of the Austrian Academy of
Sciences.
"It is unique in the life of an archaeologist to find the tomb and the
skeleton of a member of Ptolemaic dynasty," she said.
"That Arsinoe had an African mother is a real sensation which leads to
a new insight on Cleopatra's family and the relationship of the
sisters Cleopatra and Arsinoe."
They lived at a turbulent time when the Roman empire was extending its
power across the Mediterranean.
Cleopatra established alliances with the Roman leader Julius Caesar
and, after his assassination, with his political supporter, General
Mark Antony, to whom she was married.
"Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony - they are all iconic figures
from history," said archaeologist Neil Oliver who presents the BBC
documentary.
"It's almost impossible to remember they were real people and not the
semi-mythical figures portrayed by Richard Burton and Elizabeth
Taylor. It was like a splash of cold water in the face to be
confronted by them as human beings, " he continued.
"When I stood in the lab and handled the bones of Cleopatra's blood
sister - knowing that in her lifetime she touched Cleopatra and
perhaps Julius Caesar and Mark Antony as well - I felt the hairs go up
on the back of my neck."
"Suddenly these giant figures from history were flesh and blood," said
archaeologist Neil Oliver.
There was plenty of sibling rivalry between Princess Arsinoe and her
powerful sister Cleopatra - many believe the queen ordered Mark
Anthony to murder her sister.
The film examines the life of Cleopatra - who had an affair with
Julius Caesar - including her murderous intentions towards Arsinoe.
Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer is on BBC One at 9pm on 23 March 2009.
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