Cleopatra VII was the last pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty of ancient Egypt.
There are many legends about Cleopatra VII, the most famous of which is about her love triangle with Julius Caesar and Antony, which is also the origin of her name "Queen".
We don't know how beautiful Cleopatra is, but she is known for her attention to maintenance, from makeup to diet, she has her own set of beauty sutras.
Today, let's take a peek at cleopatra's daily diet!
According to some papyrus records, the diet of the ancient Egyptians included olive oil, cheese, vegetables, legumes, grains, and coriander, and their meals were dominated by meat and fish.
Cleopatra VII's breakfast may include wheat bread or barley bread dipped in wine, served with figs and olives.
The bread of that time was different from that of today, because the technical problems could not be as delicate as it is today, but the bread of the female pharaoh was certainly much more exquisite than that of ordinary people. In Egypt at that time, bread and beer could be used as wages.
Cleopatra VII's lunch was lighter and dinner was sumptuous. According to records, the appetizers of a dinner party include bean soup, barley and wheat soup.
Considering the diet of the Ptolemy family, there may have been a lot of onions, garlic and cheese on her table.
As for meat dishes, there may be meats such as porcupine, quail, gazelle, goat or cow.
Desserts include desserts made from figs and nuts, covered with honey. When it comes to drinks, quality wine and beer are essential.
Cleopatra VII and Antony had also made a bet to see who ate more extravagantly.
In order to win the bet, Antony searched everywhere for rare ingredients and exotic foods, while the female pharaoh alone ate more than ten million sesters (ancient Roman currency) delicacies.
The female pharaoh was so competitive that she ended up dissolving a huge pearl in a corrosive vinegar that was said to be one of the two largest pearls ever owned by her, and its value was naturally immeasurable. As a result, the female pharaoh won the bet.
Here are some of the foods that Cleopatra VII ate
In fact, the ancient Egyptians did not eat much meat, but the royal family, including Cleopatra VII, often ate beef, lamb, duck and goose.
The rich also eat beef, but only on very special occasions. As for pork, it is usually eaten by the working class. Because pigs were considered nasty animals (to the extent that a pig encountered on the road had to go to the river to bathe), the higher-class ancient Egyptians did not eat pork.
Although the rich and nobles did not eat pork, they did not reject wild boar meat. They hunt in the swamps and deserts of the delta, especially wild boar meat and venison.
At the banquet hosted by the female pharaoh for Anthony, 8 wild boars were roasted for 12 guests.
Also because of the hot weather, they need to preserve meat, and roe, beer and honey are all used as preservatives. Much of the meat eaten by ordinary commoners was salted jerky, and of course, the royal nobility enjoyed the freshest meat.
In addition to domesticated ducks and geese, the ancient Egyptians also loved to eat wild birds such as pigeons, pelicans and cranes. They hunt in the swamps of the delta and catch a large number of birds.
Nobles liked to eat the eggs of wild birds, which were often used to make cakes.
One of the pharaohs' favorite dishes is stuffed pigeons, which are made with various ingredients. This dish is still considered a specialty of Egypt to this day.
Fish was the most commonly eaten meat by the ancient Egyptians. Although wealthy Egyptians and clergy considered most fish to be dirty, it was a staple food for the poor. It is said that priests in ancient Egypt were forbidden to eat fish, and fish was rarely used as a sacrifice to the dead.
However, some species of fish were popular with the wealthy people of ancient Egypt and were even considered sacred. In addition, the rich and nobles would also eat delicious salted fish.
There is plenty of evidence in royal tombs that legumes played an important role in the diet of the ancient Egyptians and were an important source of their protein. Beans are rich in minerals such as zinc, magnesium and iron, and are also among the cheapest and best beauty foods. Beans are low in fat and do not contain any cholesterol, which can make people both healthy and beautiful.
In ancient Egypt, the onion was sacred and considered a symbol of "eternal life" because the layered structure of the onion symbolized the endless cycle of rebirth. The ancient Egyptians even believed that the strong smell of onions could resurrect the dead and protect them from evil spirits.
So the onion would be placed on the mummy, and the onion would be buried in the eye socket of Ramses IV. In ancient Egypt, onions were also used medicinally.
The ancient Egyptians consumed aromatic herbs and spices in large quantities in cooking, medicine, preservatives and perfumes, and domestically grown herbs and spices including celery, rosemary, parsley, peppermint, sage, cumin, fenugreek and black mustard.
Cinnamon was also popular in ancient Egypt, but it was not natively grown in Egypt. In addition to consumption, herbs also play an important role in religion, medicine and daily life.
Ancient Egyptian texts mention that herbs and spices were used in temple and pyramid rituals. They are also essential in medicine. It is worth mentioning that the Egyptians are perfume masters, and they are known as the best perfume manufacturers in the Middle East.
When Julius Caesar conquered Egypt and brought back the female pharaoh Cleopatra VII, he ordered his men to throw perfume bottles at the assembled crowd to show that he was the ruler of Egypt.
During the reign of Cleopatra VII, the lands of ancient Egypt were planted with the best dates in the world at the time.
Dates are rich in nutrients, which benefit the health of the female pharaoh and help maintain her youthful appearance. Dates contain nutrients that enhance the healthy glow of skin and hair.
Cleopatra VII would also eat grapes and drink wine. Grapes have anti-aging protection against various systems of the human skin and body, and in addition to rejuvenating skin cells, they are also good skin softeners. Grapes can also help reduce scarring and prevent sunburn.
Even if the female pharaohs knew nothing about these later scientific studies, how many women could refuse the sweet and juicy grapes?
Since 2000 BC, watermelons have been cultivated in ancient Egypt, and watermelons are also the preferred fruit that accompanies many Egyptians through the summer. Watermelon is often served as an after-dinner dessert or a refreshing snack – this is true for both rich and poor.
Watermelon is anti-aging and is also a natural skin toner that moisturizes the skin and treats acne and sunburn. And watermelon is also very low in calories.
Coconuts were considered a luxury fruit at the time, and only the wealthiest Egyptians could buy them. Coconut oil can be used not only as a cooking oil, but also as a natural conditioner and skin softener, and can even be used as a massage oil to moisturize and repair the skin.
In an era when there were no high-tech and synthetic cosmetics, coconut oil could be used as an eye cream, lip balm, body scrub and make-up remover, among others.
Pomegranates are a favorite of the royal family, highly valued in ancient Egypt, and an important part of the fruit in the Falai family. Like many other fruits, pomegranates have multiple uses. The Egyptians believed that pomegranate juice could fight worms in the gut, while pomegranate flowers could be used to make red dyes.
Over time, pomegranates became holy relics, and pomegranate paintings have been found on the walls of many Egyptian tombs, representing the afterlife. Pomegranates are believed to have therapeutic and medicinal properties, as well as many benefits for skin, hair and nails.
When it comes to this female pharaoh, one of the foods that people often mention is figs. Because the fig is most likely related to her suicide. The female pharaoh's last meal consisted of a basket of figs.
Figs were considered sacred foods in both ancient Greece and Rome. Figs protect skin and hair and also help control weight. For the beauty-loving female pharaoh, it was indeed an ideal food.
Nuts and figs are among the most popular royal desserts in ancient Egypt.
Nuts are rich in health care agents and are good for skin, hair and nails. It also protects against skin cancer, sunburn, sunburn and age spots. Moreover, it can maintain a feeling of fullness for a longer period of time, which helps to lose weight. So it is understandable that it was favored by Cleopatra VII.
Olive oil is now everywhere in the Mediterranean, and in the time of the female pharaohs, it was no exception and formed an important part of the diet of the female pharaohs.
Olive oil is known to help keep the heart young and has antioxidant effects. Olive oil not only softens the skin, but also maintains its elasticity.
Honey was a luxury sweetener in ancient Egypt, and it was added to desserts, breads and wines. At that time, honey had the meaning of "eternal beauty" and "eternal life", so the female pharaoh especially liked the milk (goat's milk) honey bath to keep herself beautiful and young.
Honey was very expensive for the commoners of ancient Egypt, so it was exclusive to the privileged classes. In recent excavations of ancient Egyptian tombs, archaeologists have often found a jar of honey in burial items. It's incredible that honey, which has endured thousands of years, can still remain intact – or maybe that's where "eternal life" comes from.
The ancient Egyptians milked cows, sheep and goats and incorporated milk and dairy products into their daily diet.
Due to the hot weather in Egypt, the milk becomes sour after a few hours of leave. So the milked milk is either drunk in a few hours, or made into a yogurt-like drink, or made into butter or cheese.
As mentioned above, the female pharaoh often bathed with milk or goat's milk and honey, and she also often consumed milk and dairy products. Both milk and dairy products are nutritious foods that help maintain a youthful appearance, flawless skin and tough hair and nails.
Beer was popular in ancient Egypt. In Cleopatra's time, members of the royal family also imported beer from other regions. There was never a shortage of beer on the table of the female pharaoh.
Cleopatra VII enjoyed drinking wine. In ancient Egypt, wine production had already begun, and this sweet drink belonged only to those upper classes.
Basically, only the royal family and the nobility owned the vineyards, while the lower classes only had the opportunity to taste wine at some public banquets and celebrations.
In the culture of ancient Egypt, wine was associated with the gods and was considered a sacred drink.
These are some of cleopatra's culinary secrets
Do you think there's anything you can learn from?