Working where warm winds blow across ancient lands, a special group of scientists and archeologists have revealed the secrets of ancient scents, lost in time. During the last three decades, scientific research has uncovered information about aromatic materials found in tombs, museum holdings and, most importantly
Cleopatra's Workshop
CLEOPATRA'S LABORATORY was found in En Boquet, 30 kilometers south of En Gedi by the Dead Sea. One of the perfumes from Cleopatra's Lab was popular in the Mediterranean World for 300 years (200 BC to 100 AD). The best perfumes were made in Alexandria, Egypt according to ancient writings by Pliny, Dioscorides, Homer and other learned men. They copied formulations and wrote about the extensive use of perfumes. Some were even quoted from Cleopatra's' "Gynaeciarium Libri" her famous book of perfumes and cosmetics. The gift of scent was so highly prized and so costly it was reserved for royalty and used in the temples. In the years just before and during the time of Christ, there was a universal use of scent. At that time Frankincense and Myrrh were more costly than gold. Perfumes of the past contained oils with gentle scents of Rose, Lily, Myrrh, Cyperus, Lemon scented grasses, and wonderful spices of Africa, India, China and the Spice Islands. Our scents were created with great care and many years of research.
Note
the Oct. 1998 issue of National
Geographic Dr. Giuseppe Donato
(archeologist/chemist/scientist) and his co-scientist's research & publication "The Fragrant Past
Perfumes of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar" , is discussed, Dr. Donato
had died by the time this article was published.
Up Date: Cleopatra and Mark Antony's Tomb believed to be found April 2009.
Historical Information:
Cleopatra VII Philopator
70/69 – 30 B.C.
Queen of Egypt, Horus name:
Wernebneferu akhetdjeh
Prenomen: Cleopatra Ptolemy XII Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV
Father of Cleopatra Caesarion at the temple of Dendera
A statue thought by some to depict Cleopatra A Stela depicting Cleopatra offering to Isis.
- Daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes (117- 51 BC) , by Cleopatra V Tryphaena (ca 70-69 BC) Succeeded her father Ptolemy XII with her brother Ptolemy XIII in 51 BC
- Was expelled from Egypt in mid 48 BC.
- Restored to power in August 48 B.C. by Julius Caesar. With her brother Ptolemy XIV as co-ruler.
- Associated as senior ruler with her son Ptolemy XV probably 4 th September 44 BC
- Died in 30 B.C.
Spouses / Liaisons:
- Julius Caesar, (100 - 44 BC) A Roman military and political leader.
- Ptolemy XIII (62 - 47 B.C) Joined forces with his sister Arsinoe against his other sister Cleopatra VII. Said to have drowned while trying to cross the Nile in January 47 BC.
- Ptolemy XIV (60 - 44 BC) Co-ruler with Cleopatra 47 - 44 BC. Cleopatra is rumored to have poisoned her younger brother so she could place her son Caesarion on the throne.
- Marc Anthony, (82 - 30 BC), A Roman politician and general. He was an important supporter of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator. After Caesar's assassination, Antony allied with Octavian and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus to form the second triumvirate. The triumvirate broke up in 33 BC and the disagreement turned to civil war in 31 BC, in which Antony was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium and then at Alexandria.
Children:
- Ptolemy XV Caesarion, probably son of Julius Caesar.
- Alexander Helios, twins born of Marc Anthony. Born 40 B.C.
- Cleopatra Selene, twins born of Marc Anthony. Born 40 B.C. Later married to Juba II of Mauretania.
- Ptolemy Philadelphus, youngest son with Marc Anthony. Born 36 B.C.
Brothers and Sisters of Cleopatra:
- Berenice IV: Ruled as queen with Cleopatra VI, (Cleopatra V), possibly co-regent with Archelaus, deposed by Ptolemy XII, executed by him shortly thereafter.
- Arsinoe IV. She was declared queen of Egypt in opposition to Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII. Captured by Julius Caesar and marched in triumph in Rome. Executed by Anthony allegedly at the request of Cleopatra VII, probably buried in Ephesus
- Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV younger brothers who at some point were married to Cleopatra.
- Cleopatra VI Tryphaena (II): Possibly an older (half-) sister of Cleopatra VII. The records are somewhat confusing. Some think There was no second Cleopatra Tryphaena. The proponents of one individual named Cleopatra Tryphaena think that she was the wife of Ptolemy Auletes and the mother of all of his known children. This means that Cleopatra Tryphaena and her daughter Berenice would have ruled as mother and daughter, before being removed from power by Ptolemy Auletes. Others think that Cleopatra Tryphaena (II) was a daughter of the elder Cleopatra Tryphaena and ruled with her sister Berenice. A third theory is that Cleopatra VI was a sister of Ptolemy Auletes and hence an aunt of Cleopatra VII Philopator
