What is known about Cleopatra VII's ancestry and racial heritage?

Cleopatra VII’s ancestry and racial heritage remain subjects of historical uncertainty, as the modern concept of race was not utilized by classical observers.1

Cleopatra was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a Macedonian Greek family that ruled Egypt following the death of Alexander the Great. While the dynasty was largely composed of Macedonians who frequently practiced endogamy (marrying close relatives), Cleopatra’s complete lineage is not fully known. Her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, was the son of Ptolemy IX Soter II and a mistress of unknown origin. Furthermore, the identity of Cleopatra VII’s mother remains unproven, though some scholars suggest it may have been Cleopatra V Tryphaeana.21

Because ancient Egypt was a heterogeneous society where individuals from diverse regions—ranging from Macedonia to Nubia—could be accepted as Egyptian by adopting local cultural norms, some historians argue that she may have possessed a variety of ethnic backgrounds. However, there is scant definitive evidence regarding her specific racial heritage.1