Cleopatra: Black or White?

Well historians are back at it again, was the famous Cleopatra Black or White? Using computer-generated 3D images, the face of a mixed ethnic woman appears as the face of the famous Cleopatra. Many may not understand the importance of such a claim and its connections to antihellenism. Although the Egyptologist Sally Ann Ashton, who has pushed this most recent question along, does make the point to identify the Egyptian Monarch's Hellenic heritage through the dynasty's Macedonian Hellenic legacy, she fails to understand the racist nature of the very question she is posing. The 'Blackifing' of Hellenic history and figures to give Black Africa some type of historical legitimacy in Egypt is wrong. Just as the book Black Athena was a blatant racist attack on Hellenic history, so is the revisionist attempts to create a Black Cleopatra. Although I’m sure miss Ashton did not have any racist intentions, she has unknowing walked into very dangerous waters.

Sorry Liz, but THIS is the real face of Cleopatra
By Fiona Macrae
16th December 2008

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