Cleopatra and Caesarion relief at Dendera
Im trying to analyse the relief and can’t seem to find out what they are actually holding and what it represents.
Thanks!
Posted Feb 11, 2020, 3:04 PM UTC
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The Object in Cleopatra’s right hand appears to be a ritual rattle called a sistrum which was fairly common in Egyptian religious practice at the time.
Here’s a link to some pictures.
https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/ritual-rattle-sistrum-1995050
Archeologists have recovered sistra and images of sistra as far afield as a temple of Isis in Pompeii, and Cleopatra was said to embody Isis in Egyptian religion at the time so it makes sense that such an item would be associated with her.
Brilliant thank you very much!