The head of a ruler, in basalt, is one of the items from recent undersea researches that will be on display when the exhibition opens to the public in April 2001. There are at least two significant indicators of Cleopatra s particular status in the eyes of the modern world. One of the strengths of this exhibition is indubitably the range of material presented by the British Museum. Some of the Egyptian-style images of Cleopatra ten in total were only identified during research for the exhibition. Background material from earlier Ptolemaic reigns will form an introductory section to the exhibition, with examples of sculptures, inscriptions, ceramics and bronzes.
More recent artefacts inspired by the queen include ceramics, jewellery and early watches.
Image is an important aspect of the exhibition, and a significant aspect of Cleopatra s life and reign. The queen s coins show her as a Hellenic Greek ruler, but she also appears in traditional Egyptian style on the monuments that were not destroyed by Octavian after her death. A further image of Cleopatra was the one that she presented to the Romans. All subsequent representations of Cleopatra, whether in plays, art or the movies, can scarcely hold a candle to her own ability to manipulate her image according to her circumstances. Seven of the previously unknown Egyptian-style Cleopatra pieces are included in the exhibition catalogue.