Cleopatra: Unraveling the Mystery of Her Ethnicity

If you've spent any time on social media, especially in the ancient history circles, you've likely encountered a heated debate that resurfaces every few years: Was Cleopatra Egyptian, or in more controversial terms, was she white or a woman of colour?

The last significant debate on this topic erupted in 2020 when it was announced that Gal Gadot would portray Cleopatra in an upcoming Sony biopic. Social media users protested the casting of a white woman as the Queen of Egypt, with even mainstream media outlets like The Guardian calling it a "backwards step for Hollywood representation." However, critics were quick to point out that Cleopatra, though born in Egypt, was of Greek-Macedonian descent.

But is Cleopatra's ethnicity as straightforward as "she must have been white because she was Greek Macedonian"? Let's delve deeper into this fascinating historical puzzle.

Tracing Cleopatra's Lineage

To understand Cleopatra's genetic makeup, we need to analyze her parentage. Her father was Ptolemy XII Auletes, the Macedonian king of Egypt. Ptolemy's father (Cleopatra's grandfather) was Ptolemy IX Soter II, nicknamed "Lathyrus" or "Chickpea."

It's crucial to note that the famous Cleopatra we're discussing was actually Cleopatra VII, the last in a long line of Cleopatras. The first Cleopatra in this dynasty was Syrian, but her ethnicity is also a subject of debate.

The Complicated Ptolemaic Family Tree (Brace yourself)

The Ptolemaic dynasty, to which Cleopatra belonged, was known for its practice of sibling marriages. Cleopatra I was married off to Ptolemy V, and then their daughter, Cleopatra II, was married off to both of her brothers, the eldest, Ptolemy VI Philometor, until he died. Then, she married her younger brother, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II.

Cleopatra II had children with both of her brothers, and one of those children was Cleopatra III. Cleopatra III was married off to her uncle and stepfather Ptolemy VIII Physcon, and they gave birth to Cleopatra IV, who was married off to her brother Ptolemy IX.

What’s fun here is that Cleopatra IV had another sister, who was also called Cleopatra, but she was known as Cleopatra Selene. Now, due to a lot of family issues, Cleopatra III forced her daughter Cleopatra IV and her son Ptolemy IX to divorce… and then ordered her son to marry her other daughter, Cleopatra Selene.

Cleopatra Selene had five husbands throughout her life, including both of her brothers, until she was then married off to the Antiochus brothers, but don’t you worry; they’re still related! Her three next husbands, Antiochus VIII, IX and X were all the sons of a woman called Cleopatra Thea, who was another daughter of Cleopatra II.

Clearly, there was some jealousy rising in the family, most specifically from the one young girl who wasn’t called Cleopatra: Tryphaena. Cleopatra Selene and Cleopatra IV had another sister, Tryphaena, who I secretly believe just felt left out entirely and felt totally fine with ordering the death of her sister, Cleopatra IV. She didn’t kill her other sister, though, Cleopatra Selene, because… well, they shared a husband. Both Cleopatra Selene and Tryphaena were married to Antiochus VIII. Antiochus VIII apparently begged Tryphaena not to kill her sister, but she wasn’t having it. 

-takes a deep breath-

Now, as confusing as that all was, this is where it all gets muddy and uncertain. Because Cleopatra V is an anomaly. No one knows who her mother was, and no one is sure if her father was Ptolemy IX or X - two of the sons of Cleopatra III. She may have been legitimate or illegitimate; interestingly, it wasn’t recorded. But because we don’t know her mother, Cleopatra V's ethnicity is uncertain.

All we know for certain about Cleopatra V is that she had a daughter, Berenice IV. But some speculate that Cleopatra V was the daughter of Cleopatra VII.

I know what you’re thinking now… where is Cleopatra VI?! We missed a Cleo!

 Cleopatra V’s daughter, Berenice IV, ruled Egypt alongside her parents and a woman known as Cleopatra VI. Still, no one knows what relation Cleopatra VI was to her: some think she’s Berenice’s sister, whilst others think she may be one of Benenice’s daughters. We don’t know anything about their relationship for certain, but what we do know is that Berenice was killed by her father, Ptolemy XII, and the throne was taken from Berenice and given over to his other daughter Cleopatra VII, THE Cleopatra. 

This intricate family tree continues with more intermarriages and complex relationships, making it challenging to determine the exact ethnic makeup of later generations.

The Mystery of Cleopatra's Mother

One of the biggest unknowns in Cleopatra's ancestry is her mother's identity. We know that Cleopatra V had a daughter named Berenice IV, but it's uncertain if she was also the mother of Cleopatra VII. Some speculate that Cleopatra VII might have been illegitimate, though no Roman authors ever described her as such.

Cleopatra's Appearance: What Do We Know?

Unfortunately, we have very few physical descriptions of Cleopatra from contemporary sources. We know for certain that Cleopatra’s grandfather, King Ptolemy IX, was of full Greek and Iranian descent. But there are many blank spots: primarily,  the woman who makes up 50% of her genetic makeup is unknown.

If Cleopatra is a legitimate daughter of Cleopatra V, she would have inherited Macedonian, Iranian and Persian genes from her parents, making her not 100% Greek but also not ethnically Egyptian or North African unless her father’s mother was a non-Greek concubine.  

The Roman poet Lucan described her as having "snow-white breasts," (Pharsalia 10, 125-145) but it's important to note that Lucan never saw Cleopatra himself and was likely relying on secondhand accounts.

The Complexity of Ancient Egyptian Representation

When we look at ancient Egyptian art for clues about appearance, we find that skin tones were often used symbolically rather than as accurate representations. Egyptian women were typically portrayed with yellowish skin, similar to how northerners were depicted, while Egyptian men were shown with reddish skin.

Conclusion: A Complex Heritage

In the end, Cleopatra's ethnicity is far from a simple question of "white" or "Egyptian." Her ancestry was a complex mix of Macedonian Greek, with possible Persian and Syrian influences. The lack of information about her mother adds another layer of mystery to her genetic makeup.

What we can say with certainty is that Cleopatra was a product of the cosmopolitan, multicultural world of the ancient Mediterranean. Her story reminds us that concepts of race and ethnicity in the ancient world were often far more fluid and complex than our modern categories allow.

As we continue to debate Cleopatra's appearance and heritage, perhaps the most important thing to remember is her remarkable legacy as a ruler, diplomat, and historical figure who continues to captivate our imagination thousands of years after her reign.