Wearing a Phrygian cap, the Amazon Penthesilea (a warrior queen in Greek Mythology) is about to send an arrow in a hunting scene with several animals and Amazons.The 5-6 th century floor mosaic can be found in the “Villa of the Amazons”, a palatial house, that probably belonged to an important administrator of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, who lived in Edessa (nowadays called Urfa).
The Amazonomachy, lower tier of an Attic red-figure lekythos, attr. to the Eretria Painter; ca. 420 BC
We are told, namely, that there was once on the western parts of Libya, on the bounds of the inhabited world, a race which was ruled by women and followed a manner of life unlike that which prevails among us. For it was the custom among them that the women should practise the arts of war and be required to serve in the army for a fixed period, during which time they maintained their virginity; then, when the years of their service in the field had expired, they went in to the men for the procreation of children, but they kept in their hands the administration of the magistracies and of all the affairs of the state. The men, however, like our married women, spent their days about the house, carrying out the orders which were given them by their wives; and they took no part in military campaigns or in office or in the exercise of free citizenship.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History: Book 3, Chapter 53
We are told, namely, that there was once on the western parts of Libya, on the bounds of the inhabited world, a race which was ruled by women and followed a manner of life unlike that which prevails among us. For it was the custom among them that the women should practise the arts of war and be required to serve in the army for a fixed period, during which time they maintained their virginity; then, when the years of their service in the field had expired, they went in to the men for the procreation of children, but they kept in their hands the administration of the magistracies and of all the affairs of the state. The men, however, like our married women, spent their days about the house, carrying out the orders which were given them by their wives; and they took no part in military campaigns or in office or in the exercise of free citizenship.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History: Book 3, Chapter 53
Greek Rhyton in the form of a mounted Amazon, Classical Period, Late 5th century BC, by Sotades, found in Nubia (Sudan)
An oracular statement that destroyed an Empire
Croesus, the King of Lydia, decided to wage a campaign against Cyrus the Great of Persia. He sent messengers to the oracle of Delphi with the following question:
Should he go to war with the Persians?
The Delphic Oracle replied as follows:
If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire.
Then he asked another question:
Would he reign for many years as king of Lydia?
Her reply was:
When a mule becomes leader of the Mede Then, oh Lord, it is time to flee
These replies pleased Croesus. He apparently forgot that Cyrus was half Mede half Persian & therefore could be considered a mule. He also made a treaty with the Spartans. Croesus was intercepted near the Halys River in central Anatolia & a battle was fought at Pteria. It was the usual practice in those days for the armies to disband for winter. Cyrus didn't, however & he defeated Croesus in Thymbria & later in Sardis. It became clear that the powerful empire destroyed by the war was Croesus's own.
Croesus, the King of Lydia, decided to wage a campaign against Cyrus the Great of Persia. He sent messengers to the oracle of Delphi with the following question:
Should he go to war with the Persians?
The Delphic Oracle replied as follows:
If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire.
Then he asked another question:
Would he reign for many years as king of Lydia?
Her reply was:
When a mule becomes leader of the Mede Then, oh Lord, it is time to flee
These replies pleased Croesus. He apparently forgot that Cyrus was half Mede half Persian & therefore could be considered a mule. He also made a treaty with the Spartans. Croesus was intercepted near the Halys River in central Anatolia & a battle was fought at Pteria. It was the usual practice in those days for the armies to disband for winter. Cyrus didn't, however & he defeated Croesus in Thymbria & later in Sardis. It became clear that the powerful empire destroyed by the war was Croesus's own.
Hellenistic pair of gold earrings with an Egyptian Atef crown set with stones and glass, 3rd–2nd century BC.
During the Ptolemaic reign of Egypt (323-31 BC.), Egyptian motifs were fashionable in Greek jewelry and were sometimes reproduced faithfully or were more freely adapted as in these fine earrings.
During the Ptolemaic reign of Egypt (323-31 BC.), Egyptian motifs were fashionable in Greek jewelry and were sometimes reproduced faithfully or were more freely adapted as in these fine earrings.
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The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with three versions of a decree issued in Memphis, Egypt in 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty on behalf of King Ptolemy V Epiphane. Its carved text made up of three translations of a single passage: two in Egyptian language scripts (hieroglyphic and Demotic) and one in the classical Greek of the country's Greek rulers. The text on the stone is a decree from Ptolemy V, describing the repeal of various taxes and instructions to erect statues in temples. It was discovered by the French in 1799 at Rosetta, and transported to England in 1802. Once in Europe, it contributed greatly to the deciphering of the principles of hieroglyphic writing.
The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with three versions of a decree issued in Memphis, Egypt in 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty on behalf of King Ptolemy V Epiphane. Its carved text made up of three translations of a single passage: two in Egyptian language scripts (hieroglyphic and Demotic) and one in the classical Greek of the country's Greek rulers. The text on the stone is a decree from Ptolemy V, describing the repeal of various taxes and instructions to erect statues in temples. It was discovered by the French in 1799 at Rosetta, and transported to England in 1802. Once in Europe, it contributed greatly to the deciphering of the principles of hieroglyphic writing.
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Gold openwork hairnet with medallion, Greek or Ptolemaic, ca. 200–150 BC. (Hellenistic period)
This hairnet, with its combination of delicate filigree, carefully hammered decorative bust, and spool-shaped beads, is a superb example of the Hellenistic goldsmith’s skill. The medallion represents the head of a maenad, one of the female followers of the god Dionysos, wearing spiral earrings, a wreath of vine leaves and grapes, and a panther skin.
This hairnet, with its combination of delicate filigree, carefully hammered decorative bust, and spool-shaped beads, is a superb example of the Hellenistic goldsmith’s skill. The medallion represents the head of a maenad, one of the female followers of the god Dionysos, wearing spiral earrings, a wreath of vine leaves and grapes, and a panther skin.
She is Cleopatra.
Contrary to popular belief, her name is not Egyptian, but Greek. It means “father’s glory,” in the sense of “glorious lineage” (from the Greek ,kleos, “glory,” and patros, “of the father”). Cleopatra isn’t actually Egyptian, but Greek Macedonian. She belongs to a dynasty of invaders who have occupied the Egyptian throne for almost 300 years: the Ptolemaic dynasty, with different customs and a different language, Greek. Her full name is Cleopatra Thea Philopator, literally “Cleopatra, the goddess who loves her father” from the greek thea, “goddess,” and, philopatora, “who loves her father"). Although we perceive her name as unique in history and belonging to an equally unique queen, she was not the only one to be called that. We know of six others preceding her, which is why, to avoid any confusion, modern historians refer to her as Cleopatra VII.
Cleopatra: The Queen Who Challenged Rome & Conquered Eternity - Alberto Angela
Painting: John William Waterhouse - Cleopatra (1888)
Contrary to popular belief, her name is not Egyptian, but Greek. It means “father’s glory,” in the sense of “glorious lineage” (from the Greek ,kleos, “glory,” and patros, “of the father”). Cleopatra isn’t actually Egyptian, but Greek Macedonian. She belongs to a dynasty of invaders who have occupied the Egyptian throne for almost 300 years: the Ptolemaic dynasty, with different customs and a different language, Greek. Her full name is Cleopatra Thea Philopator, literally “Cleopatra, the goddess who loves her father” from the greek thea, “goddess,” and, philopatora, “who loves her father"). Although we perceive her name as unique in history and belonging to an equally unique queen, she was not the only one to be called that. We know of six others preceding her, which is why, to avoid any confusion, modern historians refer to her as Cleopatra VII.
Cleopatra: The Queen Who Challenged Rome & Conquered Eternity - Alberto Angela
Painting: John William Waterhouse - Cleopatra (1888)
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Greek was her first language, and in Greek literature and culture she was educated. Although representing on Egyptian temples and some statuary in the traditional headgear and robes of the pharaohs’ wives, it was unlikely she dressed this way, perhaps occasionally to perform certain rites. Instead she wore the headband and robes of a Greek monarch. Cleopatra proclaimed herself the ‘New Isis’, and yet her worship of the goddess betrayed a strongly Hellenised version of the cult. She was no more Egyptian culturally or ethnically than most residents of modern day Arizona are Apaches. The Ptolemies were Greek Macedonians. Cleopatra may have had black, brown, blonde, or even red hair, and her eyes could have been brown, grey, green or blue. Similarly, she may have been very light skinned or had a tan Mediterranean complexion. Fairer skin is probably marginally more likely given her ancestry.
Antony and Cleopatra - Adrian Goldsworthy
Painting: Francis Dicksee, Cleopatra, 1819-1895
Antony and Cleopatra - Adrian Goldsworthy
Painting: Francis Dicksee, Cleopatra, 1819-1895
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Thus Antony’s friends persuaded him, when he was smitten with his beloved Cleopatra, that she doted on him, still calling him haughty and hard-hearted man. She, said they, has stripped herself of the glories of a crown and former grandeur, and now languishes with the love of you, attending the motion of your camp in the poor sordid figure of a concubine.
-Plutarch, Moralia: Chapter 19
Painting: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema - The Meeting of Antony and Cleopatra, 1851-1912
-Plutarch, Moralia: Chapter 19
Painting: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema - The Meeting of Antony and Cleopatra, 1851-1912