Greek History Community

If and Buts of Questionable History: Was Cleopatra actually beautiful?

1 - 5 of 5 Posts
Hash

Hash

Well-known member
Now here's an interesting discussion to be had..... This is from Thailand.... What are the views about our Greek community?
www.pattayamail.com

Questionable History: Was Cleopatra actually beautiful? - Pattaya Mail

Was Cleopatra actually beautiful? There are many myths about the last pharaoh of Egypt. To start with, she was Greek not Egyptian and there had been six previous queens with the same name. It is not clear that she committed suicide with an asp as her Roman enemy Octavian (later the emperor...
www.pattayamail.com www.pattayamail.com
 
Hash said:
Now here's an interesting discussion to be had..... This is from Thailand.... What are the views about our Greek community?
www.pattayamail.com

Questionable History: Was Cleopatra actually beautiful? - Pattaya Mail

Was Cleopatra actually beautiful? There are many myths about the last pharaoh of Egypt. To start with, she was Greek not Egyptian and there had been six previous queens with the same name. It is not clear that she committed suicide with an asp as her Roman enemy Octavian (later the emperor...
www.pattayamail.com www.pattayamail.com
Click to expand...
Im assuming that what is considered "beautiful" has changed a lot over time, because it changes from country to country. So it is pretty hard to tell..what do you think?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
nm1999 said:
Im assuming that what is considered "beautiful" has changed a lot over time, because it changes from country to country. So it is pretty hard to tell..what do you think?
Click to expand...
Very much so! Beauty is in Eye of the beholder, here with Cleopatra we can see that the image creaters have made here very attractive and seductive for the movies,we all know in real life she was very different,as she had a reputation of being ruthless,I am not well informed about History or Mythology but the treatment which Julius Caesar got from her tells a few tales.Coming back to beauty and beautiful people I have seen so many in Mykonos having lived many years,and as you rightfully say it varies with each country.We were just discussing this yesterday that we have some younger generation singers who are so very stunning and creative in dancing etc,who might not appeal to folks living in the West!
 
  • Like
Reactions: greggd12
Hash said:
Very much so! Beauty is in Eye of the beholder, here with Cleopatra we can see that the image creaters have made here very attractive and seductive for the movies,we all know in real life she was very different,as she had a reputation of being ruthless,I am not well informed about History or Mythology but the treatment which Julius Caesar got from her tells a few tales.Coming back to beauty and beautiful people I have seen so many in Mykonos having lived many years,and as you rightfully say it varies with each country.We were just discussing this yesterday that we have some younger generation singers who are so very stunning and creative in dancing etc,who might not appeal to folks living in the West!
Click to expand...
I always imagined her being timelessly beautiful, not in a sexy way but in a regal and royal type of way
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
greggd12 said:
I always imagined her being timelessly beautiful, not in a sexy way but in a regal and royal type of way
Click to expand...
Her powers and authority were her beauty,I think and her charm!and charisma...❤️
 
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Athens and the creation of democracy

I've been thinking about Athens and how it's the birth of democracy. I wondered if other societies had experimented with the concepts or if Athens was unique? Does anyone know? I know that there's been some evidence that other societies experimented with community leadership, but none had a true democracy like what Athens developed.

It was unique in developing a system where a significant portion of its inhabitants could participate directly in decision-making processes. This early form of democracy was largely initiated under the leadership of Cleisthenes in 508/507 BC. His reforms reorganized the population into ten tribes based on their residence rather than lineage, promoting a broader and more inclusive political engagement.

In this Athenian democracy, citizens had the right to attend the Assembly (Ekklesia), where they could speak and vote on legislation and executive decisions. The Council of Five Hundred (Boule), selected by lot for each of the ten tribes, proposed legislation and handled daily affairs. This lottery system for public office sought to prevent power monopolies and encourage civic participation.

I know that this work truly influenced other democratic governments through the world!

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts- I find this stuff interesting.

My Top Favorite Greek Philosophers

There are too many philosophers to count, but these are the ones I am studying at the moment. It's fascinating to me how influential the Greek philosophers are. Here's some things I am learning:

#1 Socrates

If philosophy had a poster boy, Socrates might very well be it. The father of Western philosophy, Socrates was a gadfly to Athenian society, questioning everything and Master to Plato. Known for the Socratic Method and his unflinching commitment to truth, Socrates' influence is immeasurable despite never having written a word.

#2 Plato

Rightly succeeding his mentor on this list, Plato's Academy saw him birth the first "university" of its kind. His unabashed idealism, immortal Forms, allegories like the Cave, and the pursuit of 'The Good' in moral philosophy set the stage for much intellectual discourse.

#3 Aristotle

Aristotle, another of Plato's students, had a more grounded approach to philosophy than his predecessor. With establishing principles of logic and reason, and contributions to virtually every field of academia, from poetry to physics, Aristotle's body of work remains foundational.

#4 Heraclitus

Heraclitus, famed for the idea that "change is the only constant," viewed the cosmos through a lens of process, flux, and an everlasting Logos that governs the world. Although little of his work survives, his influence on ancient and modern thinkers is profound.

#5 Epicurus

Known for his eponymous philosophy, Epicurus taught that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility, freedom from fear (ataraxia), and absence of bodily pain (aponia). Often misunderstood, Epicureanism is starkly different from the modern use of 'epicurean' - it's much less about a luxury lifestyle and more about ethical considerations regarding personal fulfillment.

Learning about the Olympic Games

It's an Olympics year so I thought I would chat a bit about the Olympic Games!

The original Olympic Games, held in Olympia, Greece, were primarily a festival celebrating Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. These games began around 776 BC and featured a range of athletic competitions, from foot races to combat sports like wrestling and boxing. Interestingly, the games were so significant that wars were put on hold, and conflicts paused to allow athletes and spectators to travel safely to Olympia. This ancient tradition of the Olympic Truce or "Ekecheiria" is a testament to the power of sport in fostering peace and unity, a principle that remains at the heart of the Olympics today.

I find it absolutely intriguing how these ancient games laid the groundwork for the modern Olympics, introducing concepts of sportsmanship, excellence, and the idea of bringing people together through the universal language of sport.

Has anyone visited ancient Olympia? Do you guys enjoy watching the Olympic Games?

Question about Greece during WWI

I am trying to learn more about Greek history. This is a family project! What I am learning about now is Greece's involvement in WWI. From what I've gathered, Greece had a rather complex and interesting stance during World War I, but I'm looking for more in-depth information.

Could anyone here provide insights or point me towards resources that detail:

  1. Greece's political climate leading up to its involvement in WWI.
  2. The significance of the National Schism and how it affected Greece's participation.
  3. Key battles or military campaigns that Greek forces were involved in.
Thanks so much!

Studying the Trojan War - Was it Real?

Did the Trojan War really happen? I am doing a bit of research and wanted to know what you guys thought:

The war is believed to have happened around 1200 BCE, and while there is no concrete evidence to support its occurrence, it is widely accepted as factual.

What is confusing me is how prevalent it is in Greek Mythology. In addition to the gods' involvement in the conflict, various stories and legends were added over time to give the tale more depth and drama. For example, the character of Achilles was said to be invulnerable except for his heel, which led to the phrase "Achilles heel" being used to describe a person's one weakness.

While some scholars once dismissed the Trojan War as pure myth, modern archaeological evidence has suggested that it may have been a real event. Excavations at the ancient site of Troy have revealed evidence of a long period of conflict and destruction, and historians have found similarities between the tale as it is told in ancient texts and what is known about the region's history at the time. While many details of the Trojan War are still shrouded in mystery, it seems increasingly likely that it was not just a legend but a real event that has been passed down through the ages.
Share and discuss Greek history!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top