HISTORY IN THE NEWS: What Is the Evidence for Cleopatra Being A Black Woman?By
Robert N. Taylor
September 11, 2008
*Was the famous Egyptian Queen and ruler Cleopatra a black woman? And
what evidence exists to decide the issue one way or another?
The Washington, D.C. based Taylor Media Services has conducted some
exhaustive research and the most credible answer is "maybe but no
certainty.'
First of all, we could find no definitive evidence from the ancient
texts which clearly state Cleopatra's race or color.
Further, the camp of scholars who say she was definitely white as well
as the camp which says she was without a doubt black both rely on
assumptions and anecdotal information which by themselves do not and cannot
definitively decide the issue.
Thus, let us state what we know. Ancient Egypt was a predominantly
black nation owning its origin more so to African peoples from the areas of
ancient Ethiopia and Nubia (roughly modern day Sudan) than to the peoples of
the Middle East.
Therefore, the original and foundation population was a black
population. Nevertheless, Egypt was the center of the ancient world. As such
and as a result of the fertile Nile Valley as well as trade and invasions,
Egypt absorbed peoples from throughout the ancient world ranging from
Mesopotamians (ancient Iraqis) to the early Jews of the Christian Bible. It
was also invaded by a host of people including the Hyksos, a mysterious
group call the Sea Peoples, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans.
The net result of all this intermingling was that over time the people
of Northern (called Lower Egypt because of the flow of the Nile) Egypt
became more mixed or lighter in complexion that the people of Southern
(Upper) Egypt.
As for Cleopatra, the foundation of her family lineage was Macedonian
Greek. Alexander the Great died shortly after conquering Egypt. After his
death, control of Egypt fell around 305 BC to one of his generals named
Ptolemy. He established the Ptolemy line of Pharaohs who ruled Egypt for the
next 200 years. Cleopatra was the last pharaoh in the Ptolemy line.
Now, for those who would have us believe that Cleopatra was white, the
above fact settles the issue. They say she was Macedonian Greek and that's
the end of it. However, to accept their position requires that one believe
that for over 200 years there was no intermarriage or even intercourse
between the Ptolemy line and members of the native Egyptian population.
Such a position is impossible to believe, especially given the fact
that the ancient Greeks virtually idolized the Egyptians and their
institutions. Indeed, shortly after conquering Egypt, Alexander the Great
visited the Great Pyramid at Gisa and declared himself son of the Egyptian
god Ammon Ra. Without in any way diminishing the accomplishments of the
ancient Greeks themselves, the historical record is clear that the Greeks
adopted everything Egyptian from many of their gods to most of their laws.
The writings of Greeks ranging from Aristotle to Herodotus are full of
praise and admiration for the Egyptians. Aristotle, considered one of the
wisest men who ever lived, praises the Egyptians in his Metaphysika saying
among other things, "Egypt was the cradle of mathematics because the caste
of priests were given great leisure, schole."
Thus, it is impossible to believe that the Ptolemy line or any other
Greeks would have separated themselves from and not intermarried with a
people they so greatly admired.
Specifically regarding Cleopatra, let us establish that there were
several Cleopatra's in Egyptian history. The one of legend and about which
most people speak was actually Cleopatra VII. She was the daughter of
Ptolemy XII called Auletes and Cleopatra V known as Tryphaenea.
If Cleopatra VII had any black blood, it would have come from her
father's side of the family. There is some reason to believe that Auletes'
mother – Cleopatra's grand mother – was a black woman. There is little doubt
that Auletes himself was not a pure Macedonian Greek. His birth was
frequently referred to as being "irregular on his mother's side." This
almost certainly means that his mother – Cleopatra's grandmother – was not
Macedonian Greek. But was she black? All we can be reasonably sure of is
that Cleopatra was of mixed ethnic or racial background. She was part
Macedonian Greek and part something else.
Finally, the fact that Auletes' mother may have been black did not
seem to bother the Greeks and the Egyptians. His mixed background was known
and he still became pharaoh. It was the Romans who caused the problem and
may have indirectly caused the destruction of the information which could
have established whether or not Cleopatra was black.
At this time (80 BC to 51 BC) Auletes – Ptolemy XII – was paying
tribute to Rome as both an ally and to avoid being invaded. Our research
suggests that a move began in the Roman Senate to challenge Auletes' right
to be Egyptian Pharaoh in the Ptolemy line because he was not pure
Macedonian Greek. Auletes (a scoundrel and playboy who spent little time
actually ruling Egypt) did two things to beat back the challenge to his
rule. He bribed two powerful Roman senators – Ceasar and Crassus – to block
the issue from coming up in the Roman Senate and just in case that failed he
began hiding and destroying evidence about his mother. This is probably the
reason that today we can find so little evidence about his mother's
background.
The bottom line is that Cleopatra VII was not pure Macedonian Greek.
She was almost certainly of mixed ethnic or racial background. Did that
mixture include black African blood? Probably, but no one today is in a
position to say with certainty one way or another.
[From Taylor Media Services at www.freewebs.com/blacknewsjournal/]
--
"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over
their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."
- Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965
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