Was Cleopatra a red head? I have to admit I was fairly against this idea for a while, considering she was probably at least 75% Greek and Middle Eastern - my mind automatically went to dark hair. However, I wanted to do some additional research and present a red-headed version of her from the Berlin Bust, which I believe is a fairly accurate likeness of the Egyptian Queen.
First off, make sure you check out the video, “What did Cleopatra Look Like?” posted to my YouTube channel (Royalty Now Studios), which goes A LOT more in depth on this topic. As you guys know, I have 2 versions of Cleo already created, both with dark hair (check those out on the page, or those are included in the video as well)
So what do we know for sure about what Cleopatra looked like? Well, we know her basic facial structure. There are many surviving likenesses of the Queen, including coinage she would have approved, Pompeiian frescoes, and Roman statues. We are fortunate she interacted so heavily with the Romans, because during this period they were big fans of creating accurate likenesses of rulers, including flaws and asymmetries. She had full lips, a strong Aquiline nose, and a small sloping forehead. As mentioned up top, she was likely at least 75% Greek with some Middle Eastern mixed in. So it’s safe to assume her skin tone was similar to those that are found in those cultures.
The evidence for her being red-headed lies in a couple of images that aren’t confirmed but very likely could be Cleo. These are some frescoes from Pompeii and Hurculaneum, as well as a cameo image that was made around her lifetime showing her with vivid red hair. Descriptions of the Fresco from Dr. Joann Fletcher: "Painted image from a villa at Herculaneum portraying a red-haired woman whose facial features, royal diadem and hairstyle adorned with fine pearl-studded hairpins suggest a posthumous portrait of Cleopatra VII." So what do you guys think?
There are prints and bookmarks of this available in the Etsy store!
Etsy.com/shop/royaltynow.Images sources: Bust of Cleopatra, ©José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, Altes Museum Berlin.
What did Cleopatra look like? Video
