---
title: Cleopatra's Nose, Blaise Pascal
author: Branko van Oppen
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11728/cleopatras-nose-blaise-pascal/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Cleopatra's Nose, Blaise Pascal

_Authored by [Branko van Oppen](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/bvoppen/)_

## Image File

[![Cleopatra's Nose, Blaise Pascal](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/11728.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/11728.jpg)

## Image Caption

“The nose of [Cleopatra](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/cleopatra/): if it had been shorter, the whole face of the earth would have changed” ~ [Blaise Pascal](https://www.worldhistory.org/Blaise_Pascal/), *Pensées* 162. On the basis of portrait coins struck by Cleopatra, philosophers such as Blaise Pascal (1623-1662 CE) assumed that the queen’s prominent nose was an element of the physical attraction with which she seduced [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/) and Marc [Antony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mark_Antony/) – and thus changed the course of world history. [Silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) hemiobol struck in Patrae, Achaea ([Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/)) with the diademed portrait of Queen Cleopatra (Heritage 3015, 7-12 September 2011 CE, lot 23278; photo courtesy of David S. Michaels, Heritage Auctions); posthumous portrait of Blaise Pascal by François Quesnel II (1637-1699 CE; oil painting, ca. 1662 CE coll. Musée d’Art Roger-Quilliot). The latter is believed to be in the public domain.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Branko van Oppen is an exhibition curator and independent scholar specialized in Ptolemaic queenship as well as Hellenistic art and ideology.
- [Facebook Profile](https://www.facebook.com/bf.vanoppen)
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvoppen/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Oppen, B. v. (2020, January 20). Cleopatra's Nose, Blaise Pascal. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11728/cleopatras-nose-blaise-pascal/>
### Chicago
Oppen, Branko van. "Cleopatra's Nose, Blaise Pascal." *World History Encyclopedia*, January 20, 2020. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11728/cleopatras-nose-blaise-pascal/>.
### MLA
Oppen, Branko van. "Cleopatra's Nose, Blaise Pascal." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Jan 2020, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11728/cleopatras-nose-blaise-pascal/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Branko van Oppen](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/bvoppen/ "User Page: Branko van Oppen"), published on 20 January 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.