Cleopatra Asked to Pay Tribute to Rome from a set of The Story of Antony and Cleopatra 1645 - 1677

This tapestry, woven around the 17th century after Justus van Egmont's design, depicts Cleopatra in a moment of forced submission to Rome. A Roman emissary, adorned with laurel, demands tribute, a symbolic act laden with cultural weight. The laurel, signifying victory and authority, contrasts sharply with Cleopatra's regal yet cornered pose, underscoring Rome's dominance and her diminished status. The motif of offering tribute, as seen here, echoes through time. We find it in ancient reliefs of conquered kings offering gifts to the pharaohs, or Renaissance paintings where defeated foes kneel before emperors. It resurfaces in modern political cartoons and propaganda, a primal display of power and humiliation. The act of kneeling and offering tribute, gestures born from psychological impulses of dominance and submission, have been performed through history. These acts tap into collective memory and elicit a visceral reaction of fear, awe, and subjugation. This cyclical progression of the submission symbol continues to evolve, taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.