Cleopatra: A symbol of beauty and advance
Introduction
We are in ancient Egypt. Here, the basis of the economy was agriculture;Religion and belief in life after death, had a powerful influence on everyday life and art. In addition, Egyptian society was under the domain of the pharaoh. At that time Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt reigned, along with her brother Ptolemy XIII. Both were appointed kings in 51 to.C.;In turn, Rome, in front of the figure of Julio César, was appointed official protector of the Egyptian kingdom. Cleopatra is destroyed by his brother, but soon recovers his throne: when the civil wars of Rome arrive, chasing his Pompey enemy.
Julio César went to Egypt and positions himself in favor of Cleopatra and during the Alejandrina war (48-47 a. C.) both Pompeyo died, as Ptolemy XIII. Cleopatra was replaced on the throne by Julio César, who had become his lover (46 to. C.);And she married her other brother, Ptolemy XIV. Cleopatra tried to use his influence on César to restore the hegemony of Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean as an ally of Rome;The birth of a son of both, Cesarión, seemed to reinforce that possibility. After the murder of Julio César in 44 to. C., Cleopatra tried to repeat the maneuver by seducing his immediate successor, the consul Marco Antonio.
Developing
Cleopatra and Antonio imposed their strength in the East creating a new Hellenistic kingdom. Then the "Ptolemaic War" (32-30 to. C.), for which Augusto took his fight against Antonio to Egypt and is defeated. Marco Antonio managed to flee and take refuge with Cleopatra in Alexandria;When Octavio Augusto’s troops took the city, Antonio committed suicide. Cleopatra would try, for the third time, to seduce the Roman warrior, Octavio Augusto, to save life and throne. Augusto showed no interest and would take her to Rome as a war loot. Given the situation, Cleopatra committed suicide and Augustus took advantage of the circumstance to also kill his son Cesarión.
Thus extinguishing the Ptolemaic dynasty and annexing Egypt to the Roman Empire. Returning to Egyptian society, the costumes was an element that characterized it a lot. During ancient Egypt, the Egyptians barely changed their way of dressing, decorating their body or combing. As for fabrics, the linen, it was the most used fabric, with it, completely white or little decorated garments were made, since the linen was very difficult to dye. Wool was also a fabric widely used in hunting and coat clothes. Among other fabrics, also mention silk and cotton, during the Ptolemaic era with the arrival of the Arabs in the area.
As for colors, the most used was white although later, the red and brown color was added, with which geometric figures were made as ornament for necks and sleeves. The main garment will be the Schentis, which was a kind of masculine skirt, white or raw, which is attached to the waist with a belt or girdle. Regarding women, haik was the most usual garment, which was a long tunic, which was held at the waist. During the new empire, we find as characteristic garment the kalasiris, long tube -shaped tunic and with a unisex side opening, with fringes on the edge and very transparent.
The women took him sticking to the body and subject with braces. Sometimes their shoulders were covered with a short layer or wore the neck with a large necklace adorned with precious stones and the breasts being exposed. Regarding has footwear, the vast majority of the Egyptians were barefoot, but the nobles could put on sandals, made with braided leather or papyrus fibers. In the idea of hygiene, the makeup that I did not understand about sexes will be important. They used it to protect themselves from the sun and the sand. The Egyptians painted their eyes with Khol, a kind of black dust mixed with water. The eyebrows and eyelids were shaded with Malachite green.
As a symbol of the life of the ultratumba, and the nails could dye with Henna. As for the history of the Egyptian hairstyle, the use of wigs was very common, both men and women. The first female wigs were bipartitas, with a line in the middle, they could decorate curls or braids and were reserved exclusively to the aristocrats. The most humble, they wore their natural hair: men used to wear short hair, and there were dyes to hide the gray hair. They also used multiple accessories to complement their hairstyles, such as: pins, headbands or forks. The pharaohs carried tiaras as a symbol of the crowns of bass and high Egypt.
One with a conical helmet, and the other ring -shaped. Next, we will analyze the wardrobe that was used in the movie "Cleopatra" of the year 1963, starring actress Elizabeth Taylor. During the film the actress will wear a total of 65 different designs, which we will comment. As for the first scenes, the actress looks like a reddish orange -colored sleeve dress, with a V neckline, inspired by the strap dress, which fits the waist. The dress has some side stripes that open, suggesting a pleated white cloth. Both orange and white fabrics look like light silks.
Fabric that as we already commented used during the Ptolemaic era the people of power. Throughout the film we find enough designs with the same type of pattern: Long dress, with pleated, V neckline and apparent silk. The difference we find among them are the type of manga, the colors used or printed, or the different disposal of the folds located on the sides or under the chest, in the center of the dress. We find examples like the yellow he uses with a white handkerchief hanging from his left shoulder. The bright green of long sleeves seen in the second half of the film.
Throughout the early scenes we find a long and fluid sleeve dress that resembles what the "Kalasiris" was. It seems turquoise silk, adorned with a golden cord, which suggests Cleopatra’s leg and golden rope sandals. We see a scene in which she appears relaxed on the terrace of her bedroom, so it implies that she is an informal type wardrobe. In the scene where César and Cleopatra visit the tomb of Alexander the Great, she wears a strap dress and an open kalasiris of silk in the matching color, with one of her most elaborate golden headdresses. Another striking set that uses in the second half of the film.
In a dark blue dress with a bright blue open kalasiris, embroidered with golden sequins and navy blue motifs. During the second half of the film, this combination of garments will use it a lot, using the superposition of the kalasiris with different embroidery, prints and colors. Another type of clothing pattern, singular to all those seen so far, will be a long sleeve dress with a high neckline and a kind of shawl or coat at the top. Some examples: During the film, Cleopatra will wear ceremonial costumes. Especially highlighting the scene where Cleopatra appears in a ceremony before a statue of César.
Wearing a set that consists of a dark purple belt dress and an open kalasiris, embroidered in black and black lines. In addition to wearing a very elaborate silver headdress. However, the most spectacular ceremonial attire will be the one that uses for the triumphal procession of Cleopatra towards Rome. We can appreciate a tight dress, embroidered in gold and with a skirt in Dorad. As for accessories and jewels, it is very noticeable, above all, the presence of gold. Regarding the makeup, mention the black delineated that contours all the eye, and the shadows of eye in green and blue tones.
conclusion
The makeup in general, is very achieved, since it resembles that of the time. In general, the movie’s costumes presents great failures in the historical improbability of its designs, such as the layer that emulated a phoenix for the arrival of Cleopatra to Rome. An important detail to point out would be that, based on the fact that the film was made in the 60s, the costumes received a great inspiration from the time in the colors, using very striking and cheerful tones, characteristic of the decade, and themarked silhouette, giving the waist. After the success of the film, we can also see a great impact on the fashion of society of those years, especially in makeup.
The black delineated of ancient Egypt, eye shadows in blue and green tones and natural tones of lipsticks will become very fashionable. If I had to stay with a movie look, which under my criteria represented in all its peak the Egyptian fashion, it would certainly be this. We appreciate a white linen suit, which forms folds and sticks perfectly to the figure. The dress we see that it is adorned with a belt with gold details, on the other hand complements the dress with jewelry, such as bracelets and a necklace, both in gold. As for the hairstyle, it is very achieved, since Cleopatra used elaborate hairstyles, where the braided that was a social class and royalty distinctive.
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