Cleopatra and the Male Gaze

[scarlettina]

This morning in his excellent Link Salad, jaylake pointed to a New York Times article about the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago completing their dictionary of Demotic, the language of the common people of ancient Egypt. It was an excellent piece. But about three-quarters of the way through, the author talks about how Demotic reveals more

Comments

[prettyshrub]

You made an excellent point. I always thought Cleopatra was brilliant in what she accomplished. How come men are never depicted as lustful?

[kistha]

Even if men are (and they are and have been) it isn't without the sneering that's all they are for attitude.

Although both sexes in Ancient Egypt were pretty open and comfortable with sex.

[kateelliott]

[aberwyn]

Very good rebuttal!

She was, of course, a Greek, which is why she spoke Greek. This NY Times reporter doesn't seem to know that . . . among other things.

[willowgreen]

Thank you for writing that.

Also, either the author or his source -- or at least a copyeditor -- should have realized that the hero of "Around the World in 80 Days" is Phileas, with an L in the middle, not Phineas.

Hmph.

[scarlettina]

Yeah, I caught that too, but I remember thinking for years that it was Phineas. I feel like that misunderstanding was the result of something I saw on TV, but I couldn't tell you what. The fact-checkers at the Times ain't what they used to be.