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| Cleopatra's mother 'was African' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Cleopatra, the last Egyptian Pharaoh and renowned for her beauty, was part African, says a BBC team which believes it has found her sister's tomb. | |
| Queen Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy, the Macedonian general who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great. | Queen Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy, the Macedonian general who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great. |
| But remains of the queen's sister Princess Arsinoe, found in Ephesus, Turkey, indicate that her mother had an "African" skeleton. | But remains of the queen's sister Princess Arsinoe, found in Ephesus, Turkey, indicate that her mother had an "African" skeleton. |
| Experts have described the results as "a real sensation." | Experts have described the results as "a real sensation." |
| The discovery was made by Hilke Thuer of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. | The discovery was made by Hilke Thuer of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. |
| "It is unique in the life of an archaeologist to find the tomb and the skeleton of a member of Ptolemaic dynasty," he said. | "It is unique in the life of an archaeologist to find the tomb and the skeleton of a member of Ptolemaic dynasty," he said. |
| They were real people and not the semi-mythical figures portrayed by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor Archaeologist Neil Oliver | They were real people and not the semi-mythical figures portrayed by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor Archaeologist Neil Oliver |
| "That Arsinoe had an African mother is a real sensation which leads to a new insight on Cleopatra's family and the relationship of the sisters Cleopatra and Arsinoe." | "That Arsinoe had an African mother is a real sensation which leads to a new insight on Cleopatra's family and the relationship of the sisters Cleopatra and Arsinoe." |
| They lived at a turbulent time when the Roman empire was extending its power across the Mediterranean. | They lived at a turbulent time when the Roman empire was extending its power across the Mediterranean. |
| Cleopatra established alliances with the Roman leader Julius Caesar and, after his assassination, with his political supporter, General Mark Antony, to whom she was married. | Cleopatra established alliances with the Roman leader Julius Caesar and, after his assassination, with his political supporter, General Mark Antony, to whom she was married. |
| "Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony - they are all iconic figures from history," said archaeologist Neil Oliver who presents the BBC documentary. | "Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony - they are all iconic figures from history," said archaeologist Neil Oliver who presents the BBC documentary. |
| "It's almost impossible to remember they were real people and not the semi-mythical figures portrayed by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was like a splash of cold water in the face to be confronted by them as human beings, " he continued. | "It's almost impossible to remember they were real people and not the semi-mythical figures portrayed by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was like a splash of cold water in the face to be confronted by them as human beings, " he continued. |
| "When I stood in the lab and handled the bones of Cleopatra's blood sister - knowing that in her lifetime she touched Cleopatra and perhaps Julius Caesar and Mark Antony as well - I felt the hairs go up on the back of my neck." | "When I stood in the lab and handled the bones of Cleopatra's blood sister - knowing that in her lifetime she touched Cleopatra and perhaps Julius Caesar and Mark Antony as well - I felt the hairs go up on the back of my neck." |
| "Suddenly these giant figures from history were flesh and blood," said archaeologist Neil Oliver. | "Suddenly these giant figures from history were flesh and blood," said archaeologist Neil Oliver. |
| Cleopatra also looks European in this oil painting - owned by Michael Jackson | Cleopatra also looks European in this oil painting - owned by Michael Jackson |
| There was plenty of sibling rivalry between Princess Arsinoe and her powerful sister Cleopatra - many believe the queen ordered Mark Anthony to murder her sister. | There was plenty of sibling rivalry between Princess Arsinoe and her powerful sister Cleopatra - many believe the queen ordered Mark Anthony to murder her sister. |
| The film examines the life of Cleopatra - who had an affair with Julius Caesar - including her murderous intentions towards Arsinoe. | The film examines the life of Cleopatra - who had an affair with Julius Caesar - including her murderous intentions towards Arsinoe. |
| Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer is on BBC One at 9pm on March 23. | Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer is on BBC One at 9pm on March 23. |