![]() Little is known of the children Cleopatra and Mark Antony left behind after their suicides in 30 B.C. Although in Egypt the moon was a male deity, in the sculpture the genders were reversed according to the Greek tradition," Capriotti said. Probably for this reason, and to mythologize their twin birth, the children were added those celestial names. "Antony's recognition of the children was marked by an eclipsys. When they were officially recognized by their father three years later, as Antony returned to Antioch, in present Turkey, and Cleopatra joined him, they were named Alexander Helios (Sun), and Cleopatra Selene (Moon). she presented Antony with another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus.Īt the time of their birth in 40 B.C., the twins were simply named Cleopatra and Alexander. The Queen of Egypt had already given birth in 47 B.C., when she bore Julius Caesar a child, Caesarion. The babies weren't the firsts for Cleopatra. Since the statue of Pakhom was dated to 50-30 B.C., she concluded that the twin sculpture was produced by an Egyptian artist at the end of the Ptolemaic period, after Roman triumvir Mark Antony recognized his twins in 37 B.C. The 33-foot sculpture shows two naked children standing within the coils of two snakes. For example, the figures have round faces, little chins and big eyes," Capriotti said. "Stylistically, the statues have several features in common. The researcher compared the group statue with another Ptolemaic sculpture, the statue of Pakhom, governor of Dendera, now on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts, USA. The girl's hair is arranged in a way similar to the so-called m?elonenfrisur? (?melon coiffure) an elaborated hairstyle often associated with the Ptolemaic dynasty, and Cleopatra particularly," said Capriotti. "Unfortunately the faces are not well preserved, but we can see that the boy has curly hair and a braid on the right side of the head, typical of Egyptian children. Both discs are decorated with the udjat-eye, also called the eye of Horus, a common symbol in Egyptian art. The serpents, perhaps two cobras, would also be different forms of sun and moon, she said. It is speculated that he did not survive the journey from Egypt to Rome and may have died of illness along the way.The researcher identified the children as Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, Antony and Cleopatra's twins, following a detailed stylistic and iconographic analysis published by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw.Ĭapriotti noticed that the boy has a sun-disc on his head, while the girl boasts a crescent and a lunar disc. He was also captured in Egypt by Augustus after his parents’ death, but was not included in documentation of the march through Rome. ![]() Ptolemy Philadelphus was Cleopatra and Marc Antony’s youngest child, born in 36 BCE. He disappeared from historical records shortly after his arrival in Rome, making it likely that he was either assassinated by Augustus or died of illness. He was also marched through Rome in chains as Augustus’ war trophy, however, unlike his sister, his fate was not documented. She and Juba II ruled Mauretania together, and Cleopatra was said to have been very capable and influential in her husband’s policies.Īlexander Helios was born with his twin sister Cleopatra Selene in ~40 BCE to Cleopatra and Marc Antony. Augustus later married Cleopatra Selene to Juba II of Numidia. She was given to Augustus’ sister and former wife of Marc Antony, Octavia Minor, who raised Cleopatra Selene in her household. When Egypt was captured by Augustus, she was marched to Rome in heavy golden chains and paraded through the city. ![]() He was sent away to safety, perhaps in India, but he was lured back to Egypt by Caesar’s adopted son and successor, Augustus, who likely executed him in 30 BCE.Ĭleopatra Selene II was born to Cleopatra and Marc Antony in ~40 BCE along with twin brother Alexander Helios. Born in 47 BCE, he co-ruled Egypt with his mother until her death at the Battle of Actium. Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar (known as Caesarion) was the son of Cleopatra by Julius Caesar. Ancient history: children of cleopatra vii
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