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Ancient portraits of Cleopatra depict her assertive, but certainly not unattractive features. The wide royal headband (diadēma) and traditional wavy coiffure express her sovereignty based on her Lagid descent.
Silver tetradrachm struck in Ascalon, Phoenicia, with the diademed portrait of Queen Cleopatra (British Museum, London, reg.no. 1875,1102.3; seal impression with a similar portrait, Edfu, Upper Egypt (Allard Pierson Museum inv.no. 8177.056); sculptural portrait attributed to Cleopatra (Altes Museum, Antikensammlung Berlin, inv.no. 1976.10); background relief scene depicting Cleopatra and her son Ptolemy Caesarion before the gods of Dendera, Upper Egypt.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Oppen, B. v. (2020, February 15). Cleopatra in Ancient Portraiture. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11730/cleopatra-in-ancient-portraiture/
Chicago Style
Oppen, Branko van. "Cleopatra in Ancient Portraiture." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 15, 2020. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11730/cleopatra-in-ancient-portraiture/.
MLA Style
Oppen, Branko van. "Cleopatra in Ancient Portraiture." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 15 Feb 2020. Web. 30 Dec 2025.
