The “Cleopatra Papyrus”
In the windows of the Egyptian Museum of Berlin is a fragile piece of papyrus that does not speak of turbulent novels or epic battles, but something more mundane and revealing: taxes, business and possible secret agreements with powerful Romans.
The so -called “Cleopatra Papyrus“, Dated 23 February 33 BC, it is a royal decree that exempts a Roman citizen of the payment of fees by exporting Egyptian wheat and importation of Greek wine.
Also grants you privileges for your ships and cargo animals – an exceptional agreement at a time when Egypt and Rome oscillated between alliance and rivalry, says the.
The text ends with a Greek word, “ginesthō”(“ So Be ”), written in a different handwriting from the rest. For some experts, such as the French historian Bernard Legrasthis endorsement It is the autograph of Cleopatra VII itself – that will be only word written by the queen Egyptian to reach our day.
In any case, the papyrus – cataloged as p.25239 – is considered an “exceptional document” to understand the relationship between Egypt and Rome before becoming a Roman province.
Who was the beneficiary of the tax exemption? The name is damaged and unreadable, but there are two theories:
The first points to Publio Canyidio Crassoa military and politician close to Marco António, lover of Cleopatra. The other points to Fifth Casselioa financial financially linked to a family of bankers with interests in Egypt.
If it was, favoritism led some investigators to question if there was corruption: would this tax agreement be a payment for political or military support at a critical moment?
Let us remember that in 33 BC, Marco António and Cleopatra they prepared for face otavianthe future emperor Augustus, in a war that would end with the defeat in the Battle of Acio.
After the tragic battle, Marco António received the false news that your beloved Cleopatra had committed suicide. Dominated by sadness, he decided to take his own life-according to some records, dropping over his own sword.
Shortly after the death of Marco António effectively. According to legend, he used the poison of an aspide, although some sources suggested that he used a other way poison.
From mummy to historical document
The story of how papyrus has come to us is equally fascinating. In the first century AC, The papyrus was recycled to make the carton of a low cost mummy found in Abusir al-Meleqa necropolis south of Cairo.
It was not uncommon to reuse old administrative documents for coffins, but in this case it can be said that the mummy was embalmed with a preciousness.
The papyrus was later discovered among the archives of the Egyptian Museum of Berlin and published in 2000 by the investigator Peter van memorieswhich identified him as a prostorma – a real decree.
Since then, it has raised debate: It would be Cleopatra a straight stratega that bought loyalty, or just a ruler that promoted trade?
Famous for his beauty and his loving cases, Cleopatra was actually, who spoke eight languages. It was educated by the best academics of his time, having studied geography, history, astronomy, philosophy, diplomacy, mathematics, alchemy, medicine, zoology and economics
Speculation aside, the papyrus confirms that The Romans were already present in Egypt decades before its conquest, in 30 BC, and reflects the cultural From the period: It was written in Greek, the administrative language of the Ptolemeus, but was directed to a Roman.
Papyrus is currently on display at Neues Museum in Berlin, as part of the Egyptian museum collection.
