Cleopatra: Part 1

When you think of any depiction of Cleopatra in any film, the first image that comes to mind is one of a beautiful, graceful woman who is physically striking. Of course, her characterisation in such films might be remembered but it is undeniable that the iconography of Cleopatra, primarily seen in the 1963 film, has influenced the way we view this pharaoh. The iconography of Cleopatra dominates our cultural perception; however, in my opinion, this perception is heavily flawed and unfair to the woman in question.

Loss of Literature: Sappho

Much of what we know about the past comes from literature. From fictional tales, which reflect the culture that surrounded it to accounts of expenditure in the government, our literary sources play a huge part in understanding how ancient societies functioned. It could be said that it is the most vital aspect when attempting to understand the past. When examining the classical world, any literature that survives is crucial and is in fact how we know so much about ancient civilisations such as the Greeks. Unfortunately, more often than not, we have lost significant portions of our history through the destruction of such materials. In this post, I will be discussing pieces of literature that have been almost entirely lost to us and thus discuss the impact it has on our lives.