24/12/2024
This is the truth about Cleopatra
It is historically accurate that Cleopatra VII, the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, was of Macedonian Greek descent. She belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt after Alexander’s death in 323 BCE. The Ptolemaic family, although ruling Egypt for nearly 300 years, remained culturally Greek and did not intermarry with native Egyptians for several generations, so Cleopatra herself was likely largely of Greek and Macedonian ancestry.
However, the question of Cleopatra's racial identity has been debated, particularly in modern discussions around her appearance and cultural legacy. While Cleopatra was certainly not Egyptian by ethnicity, she embraced Egyptian culture and religion, famously presenting herself as the reincarnation of the goddess Isis and aligning herself with Egyptian traditions. Her ability to speak Egyptian and her political strategy of aligning with the people of Egypt suggest she understood the importance of identifying with her subjects, even though her heritage was Greek.
As for her appearance, depictions of Cleopatra in ancient art (coins and sculptures) generally show her with Mediterranean features, which would align with her Greek heritage. The idea of Cleopatra being "White" is a modern interpretation of her ethnic background, but it is important to note that the concept of race as we understand it today did not exist in the same way in the ancient world. She was a Greek ruler in Egypt, not a native Egyptian, and her identity was shaped by her Greek Macedonian roots.
