tour 1 of 14
Cleopatra of Egypt: from history to myth
Cleopatra of Egypt: from History to Myth
Fabled for her sexual allure and cunning
intelligence, Cleopatra VII of Egypt has fascinated generations of
admirers and detractors since her life ended in suicide in 30 BC.
This intriguing exhibition at The British Museum focused on
Cleopatra, last of the Ptolemaic monarchs, Macedonian Greeks who
had ruled Egypt since the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.
The exhibition traced Cleopatra's life as queen of Egypt
and her liaisons with the two great Roman leaders of the day,
Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The myth and iconic status of
Cleopatra is also examined, largely through the representation of
the queen in European art from the Renaissance to
today.
This tour features
some of the highlights of the exhibition, giving a brief history of
Cleopatra's tumultuous life. There is also an exhibition
catalogue published by The British Museum Press, price £24.99
paperback, £40 cased. It contains detailed descriptions and
interpretations of all the objects in the exhibition, and essays by
key international scholars examining Cleopatra's place in
history and myth.
BP was
the international sponsor of Cleopatra of
Egypt: from History to Myth (12 April - 26
August 2001) which was organized by The British Museum in
collaboration with the Fondazione Memmo, Rome.