2004
Volume 58, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 0165-8204
  • E-ISSN: 2667-1573

Abstract

Abstract

This article analyses the uproar that followed the release of the Netflix series (2023). The fact that the Egyptian queen is played by a black actress caused a lot of controversy, especially in Egypt. My aim in this article is not so much to establish the colour of Cleopatra’s skin, but to analyse for whom and why this is so important. After all, the debate is bigger than Cleopatra alone and touches on the role that the study of classics has played (and still plays) in our Western culture. This is currently being debated, not least in the United States, where the series was conceived. Finally, I consider the position that I, as a historian, should take in this debate.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5117/LAM2025.2.002.DIRV
2025-06-01
2025-07-03
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Ager, P.2021. ‘Royal brother-sister marriage, Ptolemaic and otherwise’, in E.D.Carney en S.Müller (eds), The Routledge companion to women and monarchy in the ancient Mediterranean world, Londen/New York, 346-358.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Boter, G. en J.J.Flinterman. 2016. ‘Waarom wij studenten niet vertellen dat de Griekse cultuur uit “Zwart Afrika” komt’, Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis129.2, 241-250.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Foubert, L.2019. ‘De vele gedaantes van Cleopatra van de oudheid tot 2019’, Hermeneus91.5, 235-238.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Fritze, R.H.2016. Egyptomania. A history of fascination, obsession and fantasy, Londen.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Gharavi, T.2023. ‘“Queen Cleopatra” director speaks out: What bothers you so much about a Black Cleopatra?’, variety.com/2023/tv/global/queen-cleopatra-black-netflix-egypt-1235590708/ (geraadpleegd op 10januari2025).
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Gritten, D.2023. ‘Egyptians complain over Netflix depiction of Cleopatra as Black’, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65322821 (geraadpleegd op 10januari2025).
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Haley, S.1993. ‘Black feminist thought and the classics. Re-membering, re-claiming, re-empowering’, in N.Sorkin Rabinowitz en A.Richlin (eds), Feminist theory and the classics, New York/Oxford, 23-43.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Isaac, B.2004. The invention of racism in classical antiquity, Princeton.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Lefkowitz, M.1996. Not out of Africa. How afrocentrism became an excuse to teach myth as history, New York.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Lincoln, B.2018. Apples and oranges. Explorations in, on, and with comparisons, Chicago.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. McCoskey, D.E.2018. ‘Black Athena, white power. Are we paying the price for classics’ reponse to Bernall?’, www.eidolon.pub/black-athena-white-power-6bd1899a46f2 (geraadpleegd op 27maart2025).
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Mounir, S.2023. Je mag ook niets meer zeggen. Een nieuwe taal voor een nieuwe tijd, Amsterdam.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Oenen, G. van.2022. Culturele veldslagen. Filosofie van de ‘culture wars’, Meppel.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Soliman, D.2022. ‘Hoe de huid van de Egyptenaren telkens weer van kleur verandert’, in E.Huig, I.N.I.Kuin en M.Liebregts (eds), De huid van Cleopatra. Ethniciteit en diversiteit in oudheidstudies, Hilversum, 49-74.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. West, J.2022. ‘How Budweiser pioneered the year-round use of Black history to sell stuff’, www.slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/great-kings-queens-africa-series-anheuser-busch-budweiser-black-history.html (geraadpleegd op 10januari2025).
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Whitmarsh, T.2024. ‘The anti-black theme in Nonnus’ Diosonysiaca’, in M.Cariou en N.Zito (eds), Marturi Mutwi. Poésie, histoire et société aux époques impériale et tardive. Actes du Colloque International Paris, Sorbonne Université, 8-10 septembre 2022, Alessandria, 85-101.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.5117/LAM2025.2.002.DIRV
Loading
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error