Photo of the Day

A relief of Cleopatra on a temple wall
August 14, 2011

Cleopatra Relief, Egypt

This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Magazine Features

That's Cleopatra on the left side of a wall at a temple at Dendera—one of the few images that bear her name. She is shown fulfilling her role as pharaoh by making offerings to the gods. The appearance here of her son by Julius Caesar is propaganda aimed at strengthening his position as her heir. He was captured and executed shortly after her demise.

See more pictures from the July 2011 feature story "The Search for Cleopatra."


See more pictures of Egypt »

Photograph by George Steinmetz, National Geographic

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