Antique Rugs in Ancient Egypt

Antique rugs have been priceless commodities since ancient times, serving as a measurement of wealth and influence. Monarchs and great conquerors' plunder included the artful rugs of other cultures, especially in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Asia.

Cleopatra herself, the last Queen of Egypt arrived back in her home city in a rolled up Persian rug, after having been exiled by her scheming brother Ptolemy. In a scene that has been rehashed countless times in popular culture, the sultry, charismatic, highly intelligent princess unfurled herself before Julius Caesar to plead her case. Capturing his imagination and appealing to his common sense, Cleopatra convinced the Roman ruler to aid her in her quest to reestablish herself on the throne of the richest kingdom in the Mediterranean. The quest was achieved, and she became both a political powerhouse and a cult icon in her time across Europe and Asia.

By the end of her rule, which we will discuss later, Cleopatra is estimated to have been worth at least 95.8 billion dollars. Fabulously wealthy and completely unafraid to show it, she was the owner of countless pieces of priceless artwork: gold statues, rich textiles, precious marbles, lush paintings, and of course, well-woven rugs. It is said that her procession up the Nile was accompanied by wafts of incense, ships glinting with tortoiseshell, and the sound of strumming lyres. She hardly walking anywhere without having her path paved with expensive old rugs or carpets. She ushered in a new era of high fashion in textiles and cloths, bringing color to the previously greyscale world of the Romans.

However, the story of one of the richest women on Earth does not end well for her. Her skillful negotiating and cutthroat scheming come back to bite her, ending in tragic and spectacular catastrophe.