Mick Hartley

I realise this is just another example of academics trying to generate a few headlines for their beleaguered discipline, but really, what a load of bull:

Antony and Cleopatra, one of history’s most romantic couples, were not the great beauties that Hollywood would have us believe, academics have said.

A study of a 2,000-year-old silver coin found the Egyptian queen, famously portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor, had a pointed chin, thin lips and sharp nose.

Her Roman lover, played by Richard Burton, had bulging eyes, thick neck and a hook nose.

The tiny coin was studied by experts at Newcastle University.

The size of a modern 5p piece, the artefact from 32BC was in a collection belonging to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, which is being researched in preparation for the opening of a new Great North Museum.

All that from a couple of tiny coins.

Some suggestions:

Perhaps the coin-makers weren’t particularly bothered about getting an accurate image. Very likely they’d never even seen Antony or Cleopatra anyway, what with TV being a few years off and all. And maybe they weren’t very good at doing profiles on tiny bits of metal.