OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation · J199
Paper 2
Revise: RomeVirgil places ‘the queen in the centre’, signalling to her forces with a ‘native sistrum’. A sistrum was an Egyptian ritual rattle. Cleopatra is therefore shown actively directing forces, but the instrument also marks her command as distinctly Egyptian and religious.
- Revise: Roman History and Epic Poetry
A rattling musical instrument associated with Egyptian worship. In Virgil’s Actium scene, Cleopatra uses one to signal to her forces.