...Who Was Cleopatra? People see Cleopatra as just a beautiful Pharaoh, living in her temple with people at her feet. Something you may not realize is that she’s a killer. There’s more to her background story than meets the eye. Cleopatra was a manipulative woman, beautiful’s a strong word. A deeper fitting word to help would be, ew. The problem’s that she would use herself to receive what she wanted. This might have helped her brother and sister’s “mysterious murder” stay hushed. Her childhood played an extraordinary role in her life and accomplishments. If she was born to a different person, she wouldn't've been able to rule the throne. Another way to receive the throne, was she needed to kill her own brother and sister. Her and her brother...
Words: 428 - Pages: 2
...Comparative Essay: Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian Silke Karla Vinyard Strayer University Professor Mayhall HUM111346SC034-1164-001 (World Cultures 1) May 24, 2016 Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian were two very powerful women of their time. Cleopatra, Last Pharaoh of Egypt. As queen of Egypt, Cleopatra is one of the most famous female rulers in history. Cleopatra’s family ruled Eygpt for more than 100 years before she was born around 69 BC. Empress Wu Zetian of Tang Dynasty. She was one of the concubines of Emperor Taizong; she was the empress of Emperor Gaozong; she was the mother of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong; she was once a nun in the temple. But her most glorious title was that she was the only female emperor in Chinese history who actually ruled the whole country for almost half a century. How Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian gained their power Most nations of note have had at least one great female leader. Not the United States of course, but one thinks readily enough of Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt, Russia’s astonishing Catherine the Great, or Trung Trac of Vietnam. These women were rarely chosen by their people. They came to power, mostly, by default or stealth; a king had no sons, or an intelligent queen usurped the powers of her useless husband. However, they rose, though, it has always been harder for a woman to rule effectively than it was for a man-more so in the earlier periods...
Words: 851 - Pages: 4
...NO THANKSGET THE APP cleopatra Dana Livelli GEO-101-001 Professor DiBello November 16, 2015 When thinking of Egypt, typically, one would associate Cleopatra with that thought. However, more often than not, a person’s depiction of her is usually in the form of Elizabeth Taylor from her role of Cleopatra in the 1960’s film, or even a Halloween costume. As a result of this portrayal, people fail to acknowledge or aren’t even aware of how strong of a leader she actually was. Through a timeline of events, this essay will prove she was intelligent, determined, and brave and exhibited these traits throughout her life. In approximately the year 69 BC, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, most commonly known as Cleopatra, was born. She was the second daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, the Pharaoh of Egypt at the time. It is unclear of who her mother was, however it was most likely Cleopatra V Tryphaena. Cleopatra was born to a family of royals, the Ptolemaic Dynasty. The Ptolemaic Dynasty was the last dynasty to rule Egypt. Prior to...
Words: 1701 - Pages: 7
...Antony & Cleopatra Essay A rewrite The theme of duty versus pleasure; the dramatic element of conflict, and the characterization of Antony v. Octavius in Act 1 of the drama Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, sets up the rest of the play and contributes to Antony’s overthrow and Octavius’s victory. The theme of duty versus pleasure is directly advertised in the opening of the play which directly foreshadows the dreadful decisions Antony makes which directly lead to his downfall and Octavius’s victory. The beginning of the play begins with Philo and Demetrius’s conversation, which demonstrates the theme of duty vs. pleasure. For instance, Antony states “There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?” (Act 1, scene 1, page 7). In this quote Antony is telling Cleopatra that they should not just waste time instead they should have a romantic time together. This quote specifically focuses on the theme of pleasure and further signifies how Antony is avoiding his duties towards Rome. Antony presents his carefree attitude when he says “not a minute of our lives should stretch” the readers can easily elaborate upon his downfall as he does not put any focus towards Rome. The words “not a minute” elaborate how all Antony wants is pleasure and Cleopatra by his side. Also, the quote creates a romantic tone as Antony is showcasing his love for Cleopatra. This quote contribute to Antony’s downfall because it highlights Antony’s...
Words: 821 - Pages: 4
...ALFRED ANGELO B. RAGOJOS III - HONESTY QUISH HAM BENITO CLEOPATRA *Characters * Cleopatra - Egypt's rightful Queen * Caesarion - Cleopatra's baby boy * Julius Caesar - Roman soldier who comes to collect Egypt's tax debt and take it with him * Marc Antony - boyhood friend and cousin who is sent to Alexandria to protect Caesarion and Queen Cleopatra * Octavius - a teenage boy who hates Cleopatra and Caesar's Roman heir and grandnephew * Brutus - the one who assassinated Caesar together with Cassius and other senators * Cassius - the one who assassinated Caesar together with Brutus and other senators * Arsinoe - Cleopatra’s traitor sister * Ptolemy – Cleopatra’s Roman lover *Introduction* What would you be doing when you're 17? Most teens would party, but when Cleopatra was 17, she became the Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra V11 was born in 69BC. and died in 30Bc. Between 69BC. to 30BC, she was the last pharaoh. Cleopatra lived most of her life in Alexandra with her brother Ptolemy. Cleopatra married her brother Ptolemy, because they wanted to rule Egypt together. They did for quite some time. But it all changed when Ptolemy got sick and died. After the death of Ptolemy she found a great emperor who she then fell in love with, and then married. She then became "a woman of great ambition, intelligence, vigor, and fascination." That's when she gained both the love and the political and military...
Words: 470 - Pages: 2
...Cleopatra (1963) More at IMDbPro » In 48 B.C., Caesar pursues Pompey from Pharsalia to Egypt. Ptolemy, now supreme ruler after deposing his older sister, Cleopatra, attempts to gain favor with Caesar by presenting the conquerer with the head of Pompey, borne by his governors, Pothinos and Achillas. To win Caesar's support from her brother, Cleopatra hides herself in a rug, which Apollodorus, her servant, presents to Caesar. The Roman is immediately infatuated; banishing Ptolemy, he declares Cleopatra Egypt's sole ruler and takes her as his mistress. A son, Caesarion, is born of their union. Caesar, however, must return to Italy. Although he is briefly reunited with Cleopatra during a magnificent reception for the queen in Rome, Caesar is assassinated shortly thereafter, and Cleopatra returns to Egypt. When Mark Antony, Caesar's protégé, beholds Cleopatra aboard her elaborate barge at Tarsus some years later, he is smitten and becomes both her lover and military ally. Their liaison notwithstanding, Antony, to consolidate his position in Rome, marries Octavia, sister of the ambitious Octavian. The marriage satisfies no one. Cleopatra is infuriated, and Antony, tiring of his Roman wife, returns to Egypt. There he flaunts his liaison by marrying Cleopatra in a public ceremony. Sensing Antony's weakness, Octavian attacks and defeats his forces at Actium. Alarmed, Cleopatra withdraws her fleet and seeks refuge in her tomb. Written by alfiehitchie The story of Queen Cleopatra VII...
Words: 1472 - Pages: 6
...Topic 1 Cleopatra Throughout time Cleopatra has been distinguished with many different characters, some as a kind hearted others as the ruling queen that can conquer anything. When relating to the Horace’s Odes and Plutach’s Life of Mark Antony to the 1999 movie of Cleopatra directed by Franc Roddam. Cleopatra might have taken many characters throughout years but when comparing everything she has some characteristics that are the same and some that are pursued differently. She was smart and clever woman that knew everything that was going around her. Cleopatra was also considered a strong independent women by being able to rule Egypt without any King. Even though she was powerful queen she always had a love for men. Cleopatra can be portrayed with many different characteristics but will always have be loving and powerful queen of Egypt through all points of view. Cleopatra was recognized as a very smart woman that has the capabilities to outsmart anyone. She knows the plans of men in which she is able to outmaneuver them when needed. Cleopatra shows her cleverness through the actions with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar. For example in the movie, Cleopatra is being seen as a sneaky women that just wants power and does things strategically to get what she wants. She wanted to become queen and by taking over Caesars heart she was able to marry and get what she always wanted. People hated Caesar for having Cleopatra become queen of Egypt and people always thought of Cleopatra as Caesars...
Words: 1588 - Pages: 7
...In the period 44bc to 31bc, how easily had Augustus overcome the difficulties he faced in gaining power? Augustus acquisition and consolidation of power can be split in three stages, the era from March 44BC to October 42BC sees a fairly easy yet fortunate gaining of power wherein he secured funds, military support and successfully outmaneuvered the senate and Antony. The period from October 42BC to 34BC sees Augustus face much greater difficulty in gaining power, his rivals in the Triumvirate as well as domestic troubles in Rome such as need for Veteran land and Sextus' piracy. In the final stage from the donations of Alexandria in 34BC to Actium in September 31BC, Octavian overcomes his difficulties with ease within the final three years, using propaganda, his allies, Antony’s failings and his auctoritas to overcome difficulties, gaining great power with great ease. Octavian easily overcomes the difficulties he faced within the years 44BC to 42BC. Octavian received three quarters of the inheritance of Julius Caesar, as well as being proclaimed his heir and adopted son. This is essential in understanding how Octavian was capable of securing support in the early years of his political career. This allows him to overcome his first difficult of financing military pursuits, in which the name could be used to borrow much of the coin needed. Furthermore, Octavian Caesar attracted many veterans previously loyal to Julius Caesar, who supported the name of Caesar...
Words: 1348 - Pages: 6
...Octavius, Caesar's adopted son, was in Greece when he heard of his inheritance. He return to Rome and noticed that Antony was in control of Rome. People feared that Antony was going to take Caesar's place and keep dictatorship. The senate wanted to use Octavius to get the republic to rise and not follow into Antony's ambitions. However, Cyserro, a senator, wanted to temporarily use Octavius and get ride of him after the senate regained control of the people. Octavius had a different mindset and told the senate that he wanted to protect Rome from farther monarchy and dictatorship. The senate ignored Octavius' ideas and made him a senate. The people noticed Antony's immaturity from his criticism of Octivan. This should was on the reasons people felt he should not be a politician. The senate sent an army lead by Octavius against Antony in Northern Italy. In the following battles, Antony's army was defeated. This allowed the senate to believe they had saved the republic but they still had to deal with Octavius original ambitions. He had similarities to Caesar and kept his army with him to keep his power. This lead to him marching on Rome as if they were his enemy to ask if he could become council. Due to his power, the senate could not refuse his offer. After gaining his biggest goal, he looked to Mark Antony to be his alley because they both wanted revenge of Caesar’s death. They planned to divide the empire and eliminated any competition. They began by edging Leviticus out of relevance...
Words: 945 - Pages: 4
...history such as Hatshepsut who ruled over Egypt long before Cleopatra, Queen Victoria of Great Brittan, Queen Elizabeth II queen of England today and the list could go on and on. However, the two female rulers that we are going compare are Wu Zetian of china who was born in 624 A.D. and Pharaoh Cleopatra of Egypt who was born 69B.C. both was rulers of their time until their deaths. These two female rulers came from very different backgrounds but ultimately ended up on the same path to become strong rulers of their time who didn’t let nothing or no one get in their way of them keeping their kingdoms and the power that comes with it. Wu Zetian was born in 624 A.D. in Wenshui county, Shanxi Province and was the only female ruler to sit on the imperial throne. She ruled the self-proclaimed Zhou Dynasty which later became known as the Tang Dynasty from 690-705 until her death at 80 years old in 705A.D.Wu’s father Wu Shihuo was one of the meritorious chancellors of the Tang Dynasty he gave her an education by teaching her himself. Both Wu Zetian and Cleopatra was very smart starting when they was young women. Cleopatra Spoke 6 different languages Hebrew, Arabic, Latin, Eygptian, Ethiopian and Greek. Cleopatra also studied Arts, medicine, music, literature and philosophy. Wu Zetian was also interested in politics and preferring to read instead of doing traditional women pursuits however wasn’t born into royalty like Cleopatra. In addition to their beauty being strong intelligent women...
Words: 1532 - Pages: 7
...Cleopatra, the “World’s First Celebrity” Cleopatra was an interesting pharaoh; her life was constantly filled with romance and drama. This last pharaoh was born in 69 BC and died in 30 BC. She ruled during the New Kingdom for 21 years. Cleopatra committed suicide, yet historians are not sure how. Most people believe that she held an venomous asp, an Egyptian snake, up to a part of her body and the snake bit her. Since her stories have lots of romance and seduction, two very significant stories include Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. This famous queen also had a child with Caesar, and then married Antony and had twins. Cleopatra was known for her beauty, even though she was very smart behind all the makeup. Speaking as many as a dozen...
Words: 288 - Pages: 2
...While there are records surviving which document Joan of Arc and Cleopatra that we can trust, both of their lives and stories have been wrapped in thick layers of mythology. Each generation exposed to these stories extracts themes which seen most meaningful to them and proceed to enlarge upon it. If we insist that Joan of Arc of France born in 1412 and Cleopatra of Egypt born in 69 BC are immortal and of lasting historical significance, we must ask ourselves how these great figures have been used by succeeding generations as an inspiration for resistance to foreign occupation? There is a wealth of historical evidences and even aspects of modern popular culture that testify to the fact that Joan and Cleopatra have inspired past generations and continue to motivate people to act in ways which solve their emotional or political needs. The only remaining question is the matter of degree and effectiveness. Joan of Arc or Jeanne d’ Arc is a highly popular figure in literature, movies, televisions and other cultural works even though she’s been dead for almost 600 years. A girl born into a French peasant family in a time when her country was partially occupied by English troops, she brought a message of hope to the the French people and French nobility. Her message galvanized French resistance and her people pulled themselves out of a generation of...
Words: 1082 - Pages: 5
...Compare and contrast the presentation of John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi and Shakespeare’s Cleopatra. Your study should refer to relevant contextual material and also include appropriate readings of the plays by other critics: The Duchess of Malfi (Main Text) In Jacobean England (1603-25) the theatre enjoyed enthusiastic royal support and the period was notable for some of the greatest plays ever written. Webster was already part of the ‘second generation’ and Shakespeare was already one of the most revered dramatists of his time. Both Webster and Shakespeare produced remarkable plays in this period, which gave dramatic prominence to complex tragic women. The Duchess of Malfi (1612) and Antony and Cleopatra (1607) are two plays that explore the contradictions of social and sexual relations in a patriarchal and misogynistic period of England as seen through the presentation of there two heroines The Duchess and Cleopatra, and also through the different forms of linguistical and structural methods employed by both writers that ultimately highlight the two women’s similar yet opposing natures. Essentially both plays are Jacobean tragedies of gender politics where the Duchess and Cleopatra seek freedom of action and desire but are defined and shaped by patriarchal oppression and thereby doomed for their perceived subversive sexuality. Through language both writers present their two heroines’ as powerful women who challenge the traditional male restrictions. The Duchess...
Words: 3036 - Pages: 13
..."Was Cleopatra a heroic figure, temptress or vassal of Rome?" I agree with the statement that Cleopatra was a temptress of Rome. The reasons why I think she was because her love she had for her country. Cleopatra was known for the love she had of her country, a love so great that would lead her to any means necessary for the good of it including being Rome temptress. Cleopatra was born in 69BC in Egypt into family f pharaohs that descended from Ptolemy. She married her brother Ptolemy XIV this start the rule of Cleopatra and the temptress she did not marry for love but for wanting to rule. This started also the nickname Philopatris (lover of country). The first example of her temptress towards roman was after she fled from Egypt for fear of her life as her brother kick her out and was treating to kill her. So she heads to Rome in 49BC this is where she first meets Julius Caesar. She convinces him through pleasure to take up arms against Cleopatra Brother. She wins the throne back but shortly after has a son to Caesar, Ptolemy Caesar. This is the example of her love for the country as she could have married Caesar and been married to the empower of roman but she loved her country too much and sort of used Caesar through her temptress ability to get her back into the throne of Egypt. In 44BC the treat of the Persian empire was going and she had no Roman emperor to protect her so as again she pleasures Marc Antony into fighting against Persian empire the reason we know...
Words: 363 - Pages: 2
...Cleopatra’s Sexual Dominance The struggle to find a well-rounded female character in literature is a task in itself, yet William Shakespeare has outdone himself with his version of Cleopatra. She is a queen, a lover and a mother, juggling the complexity of fitting into mainstream Roman society. Shakespeare’s humanly complex characterization of Cleopatra shows the prevailing female sexuality and the influence it has over men. Throughout the entirety of the play Antony and Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen is the topic of almost every conversation between the Romans. She is called a differentiated amount of names, all resonating as a negative connotation. She’s been called ‘whore’ ‘witch’ and ‘wench’ numerous times throughout the play. It felt...
Words: 1992 - Pages: 8
