I’m pretty sure I’ve never done anything that was such a waste of time before–especially considering my lack of artistic skill and tools, but one of the things that always creeps me out about Roman statuary is the dead eyes. On the one hand, I prefer the marble aesthetic. It’s beautiful. But the Romans painted their statues–probably because of the creepy eyes. They also dressed them and put jewelry on them.

Today, I indulged in a similar exercise by both trying to add in pieces of this statue of Cleopatra Selene that have been chipped away, and giving some semblance of life. She looks quite a bit like her father. Unfortunately, I can’t get the lips or nose right because they have been broken off the face of the statue.

 

 

Bust of Cleopatra Selene Colorized

 

 

 

Alternate Version of Cleopatra Selene Colorized

Another Version of Cleopatra Selene Colorized

 

What’s most interesting to me is the masculine style of her hair. The women in the imperial family like Livia and Octavia famously sported feminine hairstyles, usually parted melon style or raised up in the front like a uraeus.

By contrast, in this statue, Selene has adopted the hairstyle of an imperial man. Much like the hairstyle sported by her own father in his famous bust.

 

 

Cleopatra Selene's father

 

You also see similar hairstyles on Augustus, Juba, Gaius…all rulers or rulers-to-be. Coincidence? I think not.

For more contrast, this is a bust of Cleopatra Selene’s half-sister, Antonia Minor, also a daughter of Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius):

 

 

Antonia Minor, Cleopatra Selene's half-sister

 

 

Updated: Irene Hahn pointed out to me that this hairstyle is also very Greek in appearance. Certainly, Selene considered herself to be a Hellenized queen, so there may not have ever been any danger of her styling her hair like Livia or Octavia.