Cleopatra

Tuesday 19 October 2010



Loving the over the top sumptuous indulgence of all these Cleopatra images. Palms,


roses and leopard print (what a great combination),


extravagant headdresses,


beds inlaid with lapis lazuli,


snake shoes,


and heaps of gold. I also love the story of Cleopatra where she is said to have made a bet with Marc Antony that she could spend 10 million sesterces (apparently a small fortune in ancient Eygpt) on one meal. Totalling the meal before the final course, it fell a long way short. Cleopatra then ordered one of the servants to bring the final course. Just a small goblet of vinegar arrived, whereupon Cleopatra took one of her large pearl earrings off, placed it in the vinegar to dissolve it before promptly drinking it. As pearls were so rare at the time she had just swallowed a fortune.

First image Cleopatra 1887 Giambattista Tiepolo, Antony and Cleopatra by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra, Cleopatra by Jean-Andre Rixens, Theda Bara as Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

1 comment:

Mlle Paradis said...

love that picture no 2! strange spaces and geometry but it so works! this was a fun little diversion.