LONDON, England (CNN) -- Antony and Cleopatra -- one of history's most romantic couples -- were not the great beauties that Hollywood would have us believe, according to British academics.

A study of a 2,000-year-old silver coin found the Egyptian queen, famously portrayed by a sultry Elizabeth Taylor, had a shallow forehead, pointed chin, thin lips and sharp nose.

On the other side, her Roman lover, played in the 1963 movie by Richard Burton, Taylor's husband at the time, had bulging eyes, a hook nose and a thick neck.

History has depicted Cleopatra as a great beauty, befitting a woman who as Queen of Egypt seduced Julius Caesar, and then his rival Mark Antony.

But the coin, which goes on show on Wednesday at Newcastle University for Valentine's Day, after years lying in a bank, is much less flattering about both famous faces.

The 32BC artifact was in a collection belonging to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, which is being researched in preparation for the opening of the new Great North Museum.

Clare Pickersgill, the university's assistant director of archaeological museums, said: "The popular image we have of Cleopatra is that of a beautiful queen who was adored by Roman politicians and generals.

Relationship romanticized
"The relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra has long been romanticized by writers, artists and film-makers.

"Shakespeare wrote his tragedy Antony and Cleopatra in 1608, while the Orientalist artists of the 19th century and the modern Hollywood depictions, such as that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1963 film, have added to the idea that Cleopatra was a great beauty.

"Recent research would seem to disagree with this portrayal, however."

The university's director of archaeological museums, Lindsay Allason-Jones, said: "The image on the coin is far from being that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

"Roman writers tell us that Cleopatra was intelligent and charismatic, and that she had a seductive voice but, tellingly, they do not mention her beauty.

"The image of Cleopatra as a beautiful seductress is a more recent image."

The silver denarius coin would have been issued by the mint of Mark Antony.

On one side is the head of Mark Antony, bearing the caption "Antoni Armenia devicta" meaning "For Antony, Armenia having been vanquished."

Cleopatra appears on the reverse of the coin with the inscription "Cleopatra Reginae regum filiorumque regum," meaning "For Cleopatra, queen of kings and of the children of kings," or possibly "Queen of kings and of her children who are kings."

Experts say the coin, on display in Newcastle University's Shefton Museum, is not particularly rare but is very collectable. The collection has been owned by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne since the 1920s.


Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe...oin/index.html

I don't know if the engravings on the coins could actually be considered a fair representation of her as aren't they Roman coins? If that's so then they may have altered her image to look more 'Roman'.

maybe back then people thought that ugly was beautiful like how at times in history men have desired oversize women???

muahahah MOOSE

So basically, Cleo had a good personality and was 'pretty on the inside'. I guess modern society's need for her to have been a beauty says something about us.

could not agree more..we are a society condemed on appearance..thing is we all get old and wrinkly,time is not a friend...looks are fleeting but the soul is forever

All the films with Cleopatra in have shown her to be beautiful. Typical Hollywood. So she was normal looking? Shock! That doesn't make her any less of an historical icon.

She must have been somewhat attractive. She had two of the most powerful men of the ancient world as her lovers.


From the 1st century BC


Egyptian coin

ok even giselle bundchen would look ugly as a roman coin.
please.

but you know, jesus looked more like osama, not george... how about that for controversy?

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this is not news at all. Scientists, historians and egyptologists have agreed on this for decades now. They also agree on the fact that she was most likely a white person, not african like black people claim her to be.


She was not ugly, she was definetely not Elizabeth Taylor. I guess she was more like Asia Argento type of woman, something like that. Historians at the time said, I think it was Plutarch, that Cleopatra didn't stand out in a crowd, but when she talked she seduced the world.

She was very wise and intelligent and in those times those were certainly great attributes. She spoke like seven different languages, and she was the only monarch of her dynasty to speak ancient egyptian, quite a feat.

she was deeply affected by the destruction of the Library of Alexadria, because she loved and encouraged knowledge and the arts.

An enormously fat woman on the History channel said the same thing, but I didn't believe it for obvious "look who's talking" reasons.

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cheeseburger lips!

she was also horribly inbred. it was custom at the time for brothers and sisters to marry and produce heirs. her parents were, i believe, cousins.

and as we know from other royal families (windsors and hapbsburgs being prime examples), that never does much for looks.

she wasn't deformed or anything if that's what you are implying.

now where did i imply that? didn't you learn reading comprehension skills at age seven like everyone else?

Sorry, I guess you had to be there. Which, you obviously were.

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cheeseburger lips!

of course.

[quote=vegyrex]She must have been somewhat attractive. She had two of the most powerful men of the ancient world as her lovers.


Maybe they where attracted to her empire? But your statuette does look a lot better than the coin.

I'm sure they were. Egypt back then was a wealthy nation. But if the Romans wanted Egypt's wealth they could have just taken it. Egypt was no match for Rome militarily. With two giant sized egos like Julius Caesar and Marc Antony I would think they wouldn't have wasted much time courting a woman who wasn't attractive, at least a little.

Or, maybe they really bad taste in women.

OMGzzz z it's a conspiracy by the blacks and jews...

You make me sick.