Cleopatra VII – Iconography and Power

Cleopatra VII was identified with the Egyptian goddess _________.

• Bastet – Goddess represented as a cat or lioness, patroness of the city of Bubastis, linked with protection from evil^.

• Isis – Wife of Osiris and mother of Horus, linked with funerary rites, motherhood, protection, and magic. She became a major deity in Greek and Roman religion.

• Anuket – A feathered headdress wearing goddess of Egypt's southern frontier regions, particularly the lower cataracts of the Nile.

• Maat – Goddess who personified truth, justice, and order.

Cleopatra VII was the only Ptolemaic queen to mint coins with her own name and effigy (in which she alone is portrayed).

• True

• False

Historian, Angelica E. Delaney from Kennesaw State University provides ____________ about Cleopatra’s use of iconography when she argues that Cleopatra VII’s, “…images communicated her responsibilities to the gods through ritual, her devotion to her son as her successor, the ability to maintain in Egyptian society, and her qualities connected with the divine.”

• some evidence

• reliable evidence

• limited evidence

• questionable evidence

Choose the 'moving out phrase' and analysis sentence which would best explain the following quote:

Historian, Jennifer Banning from Ball State University, Indiana illustrates consistent evidence stating that, “By associating herself with Isis…Cleopatra placed herself in a special position: she was the mother and daughter of Egypt, a product of long line of Egyptian rulers and a protector of the Egyptian people”.

• This demonstrates that Cleopatra was an astute political leader who was able to manipulate others to achieve her own political aims.

• This evidence demonstrates how Cleopatra manipulated her imagery and depictions of herself, in order to consolidate her power as a religious figurehead and astute political leader.  

• This evidence highlights the challenges faced by Cleopatra in her struggle for power against her own family.

• This demonstrates how her siblings conspired against her which resulted in Cleopatra's exile which would be a further challenge to her obtaining and consolidating her power over Egypt.

As the last noble of the Ptolemaic Dynasty Cleopatra's image was designed to communicate her...

• political abilities

• religious fervor

• maternal obligations

• royal lineage

• direct connection to ancient Egyptian gods

What purpose does the image of Cleopatra nursing an infant serve for her image in Egypt?

Answer explanation

Cleopatra depicts herself nursing an infant to help solidify her image in Egypt as “…the mother and daughter of Egypt…” and to strengthen her position like that of Isis as a mother. This helped to consolidate her power and position as Pharaoh.

Image Context Statement: A black basalt statue from Egypt portrays the Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra VII as Isis-Aphrodite (c. 51-30 BCE).

Question: Why might Cleopatra VII construct a religious image associated with Isis? What purpose was she trying to achieve?

Answer explanation

Cleopatra depicts herself as the reincarnation of Isis in order to reinforce her position as queen and portray herself as the “…protector of the Egyptian people…”  and a “…divine queen and fertile mother…” which ultimately aids in consolidating her power.