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Gal Gadot’s casting as Cleopatra in an upcoming biopic has ignited a debate about whitewashing and ancient history.
The actress announced on Sunday that she’s re-teaming with “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins for a biopic about the life of the famous Queen of Egypt. In her announcement, she noted that she’s specifically excited to “tell her story for the first time through women’s eyes, both behind and in front of the camera.”
The actress, who is Israeli, almost immediately caught backlash from some people on social media who believe the role should have gone to a Black actress given the ethnicity of the film’s subject. However, that prompted many to come to Gadot’s defense, noting that, although she was an Egyptian ruler, historians typically identify Cleopatra as being of Greek ancestry — making her skin color uncertain.
Indeed, if one would read about the life of Alexander the Great, one would quickly see that his home country of Macedonia was full of people named Cleopatra.
Her father was a macedonian greek... The idiot left don't realize that Cleopatra is more than likely white... these liberals look at the African continent and think everyone there is black...
Impartial students of history know (from all the available evidence), that Cleopatra had Macedonian ancestry (European). The idea that Cleopatra was sub-Saharan African is basically Afrocentric wishful thinking.
But for argument's sake let's say Cleopatra was pure African, and she is portrayed by a non-Black actress.. what is the sin ? Nobody cares when non-White actors portray Caucasian historical figures (ie- Hamilton). This is just another attempted dog-pile on/chastisement of White people (my opinion).
How is that whitewashing?? The Ptolemies of Egypt were all Greeks. Cleopatra was in that line of succession. The ethnic Egyptians were pretty white as well. They held a low opinion of the black skinned Nubians to their south for being much darker skinned than the Egyptians.
Now obviously she wouldn't have been blonde haired, blue eyed, so a Jewish woman pretty well nails what Cleopatra would have looked like.
Obviously Cleopatra was Macedonian. There is no actual controversy on that point among historians.
Still, not sure Gadot is right for the role. Elizabeth Taylor had the right mix of 'aristocrat' and bad girl (because she was both in real life), which made her perfect for the role. Gal Gadot is the wholesome girl next door. Of course they could go the heroic, good girl route in their portrayal of Cleopatra. But that would be so out of line with who she was in real life. Probably a safe bet on it being a dumbed down, cgi crapfest in any event
How is that whitewashing?? The Ptolemies of Egypt were all Greeks. Cleopatra was in that line of succession. The ethnic Egyptians were pretty white as well. They held a low opinion of the black skinned Nubians to their south for being much darker skinned than the Egyptians.
Now obviously she wouldn't have been blonde haired, blue eyed, so a Jewish woman pretty well nails what Cleopatra would have looked like.
Cleopatra was of European descent. However...
The Egyptians held all their neighbors in low esteem, you made up the part about the Nubians being looked down upon for being black.
In 1974, the UNESCO held an Egyptology conference where at the end, the prevalent opinion was that ancient Egypt belonged to the subsaharan African cultural sphere in all aspects such as religion, language, furniture, and so on. The details can be found here on unesco.org.
Even nowadays, 3000 years later after Greek, Roman and Arab invasions, the people who live in the parts that were the main centers of ancient Egypt, the people there are black. Northern Egypt was called lower Egypt. Upper Egypt, the center of their civilisation, was in the south, close to the Nubian border.
Her father was a macedonian greek... The idiot left don't realize that Cleopatra is more than likely white... these liberals look at the African continent and think everyone there is black...
More than likely? No it's 99% certain as the Ptolomaic dynasty was a greek famiy from Makedon that became the rulers of Egypt after Alexander's conquests and death. They only married in their family. Cleopatra was 100% greek. The ****i g idiots of the far left can't change historical facts.
Her father was a macedonian greek... The idiot left don't realize that Cleopatra is more than likely white... these liberals look at the African continent and think everyone there is black...
They KNOW who Cleopatra's family was. She was part of the incestuous Ptolemic dynasty. They were related to each other or a few Greeks brought in. They have coins with her image on it. She didn't really even have any Egyptian ancestors, let alone Black African.
Its just unbelievable how people want to demonstrate their stupidity.
For those who don't know about the Ptolemys, it was a dynasty founded by one of Alexander's Generals 300 years before. Cleopatra was the last of the Ptolemys.
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