On this date (Nov 30) in 30 BC, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator died. Tradition holds that she died from a pain in the asp (rim shot)…
Cleopatra remains a powerful figure in the worlds of art, literature, and even philosophy, held up as a great beauty who held the world of men in the palm of her hand. Blaise Pascal, in his masterwork Pensées, noted that her profile changed history.
“Cleopatra’s nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed.”
Perhaps there’s something to that. Perhaps there was some vast creative spark that became an inferno upon her death. Look at these folks, all born on Nov 30 – the day Cleopatra kissed the snake:
1667 – Johnathan Swift – genius satirist
1835 – Mark Twain – genius humorist
1874 – Sir Winston Churchill – genius blowhard
1937 – Ridley Scott – genius director
1947 – David Mamet – genius playwright
1952 – Mandy Patinkin – genius Inigo Montoya
1955 – Billy Idol – genius lip-curling self-dancer
1957 – Colin Mochrie – genius Canadian improv artist
1965 – Ben Stiller – genius Tom Cruise impressionist
Obviously this is just a partial list, but it does make one wonder, doesn’t it?
As a quick side note, for those who are wondering why my history lesson moved from my Facebook status to my blog, it’s simply a matter of hot air. Facebook’s status size limits are just too restrictive… sometimes I just gotta ramble!
Until next time…