Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII Philopator was a striking and well-witted pharaoh of vast ancient Egypt. One of the six women rulers of Egypt, she led the country well and gained powerful alliances with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, who were in fact two of her four spouses. Egypt was prosperous and thriving under her reign. Cleopatra VII was known to history for her voluptuous beauty, outrageous affairs, and- most memorably- being the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt.
Cleopatra was born Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator to King Ptolemy XII Auletes and Cleopatra V Tryphaena sometime in October of 69 BC. She had several brothers and sisters, including Ptolemy XII and Ptolemy XIV, both of which she married as per the traditional Egyptian custom, and Cleopatra VI Tryphaena, who attempted to poison her younger sister, Cleopatra VII. Prior to Cleopatra’s mother and father departing to Rome, Cleopatra VI took over the throne, but died shortly afterwards, leaving the title of pharaoh to the young eighteen year-old Cleopatra and ten year-old Ptolemy. Although Ptolemy and she were a joint heir, Cleopatra made it clear that she did not intend on sharing the power with him. Ptolemy soon become conscious of Cleopatra’s intent and banished his wife and sister from Egypt.
In attempt to gain alliance with Rome, thirteen year-old Ptolemy XII beheaded who he believed to be an enemy of Julius Caesar, but his assumptions were brutally incorrect. To punish Ptolemy, Caesar took over the Egyptian capital and declared himself arbitrator between Ptolemy and Cleopatra’s rivaling feud.
Cleopatra decided to take advantage of Caesar’s resentment towards Ptolemy, and had discreetly snuck her way into the palace to meet with Caesar. She shortly afterwards became his mistress, and in 47 BC gave birth to Ptolemy Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion. Ptolemy XII’s army was eventually conquered by Julius Caesar’s, and Cleopatra was given back her title as Queen of Egypt, ruling alongside her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. During Caesar’s stay in Egypt from the years 47 to 48 BC, Cleopatra, presently twenty-one, and Caesar, presently fifty-two, portrayed themselves as lovers. Following Caesar’s assassination and Ptolemy XIV’s alleged poisoning, Cleopatra proclaimed Caesarion her official co-regent and successor of Egypt.
In 41 BC, Mark Antony requested Cleopatra’s presence, and it resulted in her charming him so that he chose to stay in Alexandria throughout that winter. On December 25, 40 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to twins fathered by Antony, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II. Four years later, Antony returned to Alexandria and married Cleopatra, producing in yet another child, Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Subsequent to Antony’s conquest of Armenia, Cleopatra and Caesarion took the claim to Egypt’s unoccupied throne in late 34 BC. The relationship between Mark Antony and his nephew, Octavian, grew more and more corrupting until things blew up entirely. The Battle of Actium took place, and Antony’s forces deserted Octavian’s army as of August 1, 30 BC, in which Antony ended up committing suicide.
Prior to hearing of Antony’s death, Cleopatra followed his suit and took her own life. Exactly how she committed suicide is not truly known, however, it is theorized that she was either bitten by an Egyptian cobra or an asp on the breast. Plutarch stated, “Upon opening the doors, they saw her stone-dead, lying upon a bed of gold, set out in all her royal ornaments” (The Beauty of Cleopatra).
While she was still living, Cleopatra remarkably portrayed herself to be the daughter of the Egyptian sun god, Re, and the reincarnation of the goddess Isis to help her royal status quo. She was perceived by many as an absolutely voluptuous seductress. The Cleopatra page at penelope.uchicago.edu writes:
For her beauty, as we are told, was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her; but converse with her had an irresistible charm, and her presence, combined with the persuasiveness of her discourse and the character which was somehow diffused about her behavior towards others, had something stimulating about it. There was sweetness also in the tones of her voice; and her tongue, like an instrument of many strings, she could readily turn to whatever language she pleased... (Plutarch).
Cleopatra was a highly educated woman in addition to her divine beauty. She spoke multiple languages, such as Greek and Egyptian, something that was uncommon during that period in history, and she had an extraordinarily witty, clever mind. According to Cassius Dio, “She possessed a most charming voice and a knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to everyone”.
Looking back at Cleopatra’s impeccably short life of only thirty-nine years, it contained numerous achievements and accomplishments. Cleopatra VII Philopator was a beautiful and clever romantic, and arguably the most memorable in ancient Egypt.