Posted on 04/25/2008 7:44:34 PM PDT by blam
Egypt: Tomb of Cleopatra and lover to be uncovered
Cairo, 24 April(AKI) - Archaeologists have revealed plans to uncover the 2000 year-old tomb of ancient Egypt's most famous lovers, Cleopatra and the Roman general Mark Antony later this year.
Zahi Hawass, prominent archaeologist and director of Egypt's superior council for antiquities announced a proposal to test the theory that the couple were buried together.
He discussed the project in Cairo at a media conference about the ancient pharaohs.
Hawass said that the remains of the legendary Egyptian queen and her Roman lover, Mark Antony, were inside a temple called Tabusiris Magna, 30 kilometres from the port city of Alexandria in northern Egypt.
Until recently access to the tomb has been hindered because it is under water, but archaeologists plan to drain the site so they can begin excavation in November.
Among the clues to suggest that the temple may contain Cleopatra's remains is the discovery of numerous coins with the face of the queen.
According to Hawas, Egyptologists have also uncovered a 120-metre-long underground tunnel with many rooms, some of which could contain more details about Cleopatra.
Born in Rome, Mark Antony was a military general and commander, as well as supporter of Julius Caesar. He was also Cleopatra's lover and bore him a son, called Caesarion.
After Julius Caesar's assassination in March 44 B.C., Antony formed a triumvirate with Octavian, also known as Augustus, and Marcus Lepidus.
Civil war ensued in Rome due to disagreements between Antony and Octavian, who was Julius Caesar's heir and who later became Rome's first emperor.
Antony was subsequently defeated by Octavian and he later committed suicide.
Cleopatra, who came to power at 18 years of age, was once the ruler of Egypt and considered the last of seven queens of the same name.
She was famous for her intelligence, her beauty and her political power.
Cleopatra who also bore Mark Antony twins, committed suicide after his death in August 30 B.C.
I always thought that she looked like Claudette Colbert.
Cleopatra, 1934
TIME MACHINE
by Howie Greenfield & Barry Mann
Recorded by Dante & the Evergreens, Madison Records #135, 1960
I opened up this here history book,
And flipped my lid when I took a look.
There on page two-nineteen
Was this here Egpytian Queen.
Although she lived in 44 BC,
Cleopatra is the chick for me.
(CHORUS)
I’m going to build a time machine,
So I can go back and make the scene.
I’m gonna make some time
With my Egyptian Queen
In my little old time machine
Pretty soon, I’ll be making the gig
When I set the doodad on my thingamajig.
I’m gonna crank and turn the dial.
Very soon, I’ll be on the Nile.
Holding hands with my Cleo kid,
Setting in the shade of a pyramid
(CHORUS)
She got a daddy rich as old King Tut.
I hear her mummy’s all wrapped up.
Got a room of diamonds on every shelf.
When I walk in, she’ll say, “help yourself.”
I’ll fill my pockets and after a while,
We’ll make some time,
Nineteen-six-o style
(CHORUS)
.
Look at that girl go
Like she sure is hep, ain’t she?
Like, wow, get the snake
Away from my girl!
Oh, no, it’s too late!
Your funniest yet!
Walk like a...Huma.
Thanks nit, that’s been around awhile but I think you missed a lot of them.
All imperators, not “emperors.” Octavian was made Augustus Princeps, which was an unprecedented title created for him.
That's for sure! From the images they have of her, which are few, she definitely appears as a very unattractive woman!
Zaftig Neh ?
Neat trick for Mark to pull off, didn't know he could bear his own children.
On the other had, it's kind of neat. After all the stories, the movies, etc.... a possible opportunity to see some facts.
Augustus was an absolute monarch but wanted to disguise his power, so he used the term Princeps to give the idea he was merely the First Citizen.
Many Romans had held the dictatorship in earlier times, with a 6-month maximum. After Fabius was dictator in 217 B.C. the office fell out of use until Sulla had himself made dictator (without a time limit), and then Caesar had himself made dictator repeatedly, then "dictator for life." After his assassination the office of dictator was permanently abolished.
By now you know that she was European...Greek to be exact from a long line of Greeks rulers in Egypt established by Alexander, the Ptolemaic line.
More images of her here:
http://sangha.net/messengers/cleopatra/Greek.htm
What happened to the twins?
I’ve read places (?) that Claudette was gay—and happy.
He was also Cleopatra's lover and bore him a son, called Caesarion.
...or stuffed and mounted.
Dictator was a constitutional office under the Republic. It granted absolute and unquestionable power for six months, and required the Senate to pass a decree authorizing the consuls to appoint someone. The law establishing the office was passed in 501 BC, five years after the Republic was founded.
Neither Crassus, Pompey nor Marius ever held this office, although Marius briefly held unconstitutional absolute power, acting functionally as a dictator in today's misuse of the word. Also Pompey and Crassus were triumvirs with Caesar, and thus held a joint unconstitutional dictatorship, again in the modern sense. The Roman dictatorship was by definition held by only one man, so the triumvirs weren't really dictators.
Sulla and Caesar both became dictator using violently unconstitional means and also held office long beyond the constitutionally prescribed six months, Caesar eventually appointing himself dictator for life.
The term Imperator, which later became Emperor, was an acclamation made of a victorious general on the field of battle by his troops. It is roughly translated "commander," and implied their acknowledgement of his earning of this title.
Hundreds of Romans were acclaimed Impertor before Augustus came along. Being acclaimed Imperator on the field of battle was a pre-requisite for a general to receive a triumph.
As far as I know, Horatius was never a dictator, or even a politician. One story is that he drowned trying to get back across the river.
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