Queen Cleopatra VII Philopator is the last ruler of Hellenistic Egypt.
She belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty and lived in 69 – 30 BC.
Cleopatra is considered the last Egyptian pharaoh, although this is not entirely correct. The queen became famous for her beauty, which was considered unearthly.
According to legends spread by Greek and Roman authors, she was so beautiful that many men were willing to give their lives for just one night with her. The dramatic love between Cleopatra and the Roman commander Mark Antony and Julius Caesar is well known. She had children from both of them.
However, Cleopatra's unearthly beauty did not save Egypt from losing its independence. The country was conquered by Rome. Later ancient authors describe Cleopatra most often in a negative way.
Apparently, ancient authors denigrated the image of the queen to please Octavian, the conqueror of Egypt, who considered her a dangerous opponent of Rome, who also “spoiled” Mark Antony. Perhaps Octavian was enraged by the pride of the queen, who committed suicide so as not to become his captive.
General information
Cleopatra (69 - 30 BC) was the daughter of Ptolemy XII and sister of Ptolemy XIII and XIV. Most likely, she was born from a concubine, since only Berenice was the legitimate daughter of Ptolemy. At first, Cleopatra reigned with her brothers as co-rulers, but soon gained full power, getting rid of her second co-ruler and brother, Ptolemy XIV.
There is very little information about the queen’s childhood and youth. It is known that in 58 - 55 there was a turmoil in Egypt, as a result of which her father was overthrown and expelled from the country. Berenice became the new ruler. But not for long - the father, relying on the help of the Romans, returned and again took the throne.
He launched large-scale repressions against his enemies, including killing his own daughter Berenice. These dramatic events certainly influenced young Cleopatra, teaching her to be strong, domineering and ruthless. Egypt remained an independent country, but from now on existed under Roman protectorate.
Unusual is the fact that Cleopatra had good education. At that time the Greeks, even in royal families did not care about the upbringing and education of women. In addition to this, the queen had a natural intelligence and intelligence and could properly use the education she received.
Egyptian Queen Cleopatra photo
In addition to her native Greek, she spoke many languages - Egyptian, Aramaic, Hebrew, Ethiopian, Berber, Persian and Latin. There are many images of the queen, but almost all of them idealize her appearance. However, there are several statues and portraits on coins that show her apparently realistic features - wavy hair, large eyes, protruding chin and hooked nose; all these traits were hereditary in the Ptolemaic family.
Meeting with Caesar
When her father died, Cleopatra was supposed to take the throne. However, according to the custom adopted by the Ptolemies, a woman could not reign on her own. Therefore, she had to enter into a formal marriage with her brother Ptolemy XIII, who was then only nine years old. At first, the fully grown girl ruled herself, but the boy quickly grew up and, relying on the courtiers, achieved primacy in matters of power.
Then Cleopatra fled to Syria and gathered an army there. She moved towards Egypt, but her brother and his army were waiting for her at the border. The situation became critical, but “something” happened. Gnaeus Pompey, the great Roman senator, arrived in Egypt. He was hiding from Caesar, who seized all power in Rome. Ptolemy ordered the death of the senator, which was carried out. So he hoped to earn the favor of the Roman dictator.
However, he acted differently. He ordered his political opponent to be solemnly buried, and demanded from Ptolemy XIII to repay the debts accumulated by his father. In view of this, he could have conquered Egypt, but he did not do this and decided to rely on Cleopatra, who would become a puppet.
Caesar summoned Cleopatra to his place in Alexandria. It was not easy for her to get there - her brother’s troops were standing in front of the city. She was helped by her lover Apollodorus, who secretly smuggled her in a boat and then carried her into the palace - but not in a carpet, as is commonly believed, but in a bed bag. The dictator was immediately captivated by the beautiful queen. Soon they entered into a de facto marriage, despite the fact that Cleopatra was formally married to her second young brother.
Ptolemy, believing that he had been betrayed, raised an uprising, but it was suppressed by Caesar. After the victory over the rebels, Caesar and Cleopatra organized magnificent celebrations in the Egyptian capital.
Under the patronage of Caesar
Caesar allocated his favorite a rich villa in Rome, where she received noble Romans. He ordered her gilded statue to be installed in the Temple of Venus. However, the honors given to her did not please the Republicans, and this accelerated the death of the dictator.
Meeting with Mark Antony
After the assassination of Caesar, Cleopatra was forced to maneuver between the supporters of the murdered man and his opponents. More precisely, she decided to collaborate with the murderers of her patron, since they were very strong politically and controlled vast domains.
Serapion, Cleopatra's Syrian governor, helped Cassius on her orders by sending him money and a fleet. The further reign of the queen was accompanied by disasters within the country:
- Prolonged crop failures and the threat of famine;
- The outrages of the Roman legions remaining in Egypt;
- Egypt was also under threat from Antony, the Roman commander and governor in Cilicia.
Anthony was preparing for a big military campaign. To get it for this more money, he decided to accuse Cleopatra of collaborating with Brutus and Cassius. For this purpose, he summoned the queen to him. However, she resorted to a trick. Knowing Anthony's love for external splendor, vanity and craving for luxury, she equipped a luxurious ship, decorated with gold, silver and other jewelry, and set off on it to him.
She herself was dressed as Aphrodite, and the ship was steered by girls dressed as nymphs. Arriving at Anthony, she called him to the ship, where she arranged a feast. Mark Antony was captivated by this treatment and by Cleopatra herself. She also said that Serapion helped Cassius without her knowledge, and she herself prepared another fleet for the Caesarians, but it could not be sent due to unfavorable winds.
Instead of the punishment that Antony intended to bring down on Cleopatra, he fell in love with her. Their romance and life together lasted ten years. However, it is difficult to say what the role of political calculation was in these relations; it is known that with the help of Anthony, the queen was able to carry out many of her plans, and he, with the help of Egyptian money, was able to maintain an army.
Death
When Egypt was occupied by troops, Cleopatra tried to resist, but it did not help. Roman troops reached the capital. Then the queen hid in her tomb. But Octavian was informed that she had committed suicide. Then in despair he threw himself on the sword and died.
Cleopatra was saddened and also wanted to stab herself with a dagger, but then changed her mind and decided to surrender to Octavian - in the hope that she would again charm the conqueror. However, Cleopatra's beauty, somewhat weakened over the years, did not touch him. Octavian conquered Egypt and prepared to celebrate his triumph.
Cleopatra pretended to be sick and fell ill. The servant, at her request, secretly brought poison into her chambers (according to another version, a poisonous snake). After some time, the queen died.
August 12, 30 BC e. Egyptian Queen Cleopatra committed suicide inside a mausoleum in Alexandria. She was the last independent pharaoh that Ancient Egypt knew. For two decades, Cleopatra waged a ruthless power struggle with her siblings, battled the future Roman emperor, and was involved in military alliances and amorous affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She is remembered as one of the most striking and charming figures of antiquity, but many facts about her life are either unknown or remain myths. You have the opportunity to find out 10 amazing facts about the legendary Queen of the Nile.
1. Cleopatra was not Egyptian
Despite the fact that Cleopatra was born in Egypt, the roots of her family go back to Macedonia and Greece. She belonged to the dynasty of Ptolemy I Soter (one of Alexander the Great's generals). Ptolemy took the reins of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. e. and became the founder of a dynasty of rulers speaking Greek. The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt for almost three centuries. Despite her origins, Cleopatra adopted many of the ancient traditions of the country she ruled and became the first of the Ptolemaic dynasty to learn the Egyptian language.
2. She was born as a result of incest
Like many rulers, members of the Ptolemaic dynasty married within their own family to maintain the purity of the bloodline. More than a dozen of Cleopatra's ancestors were married to their first cousins, so it is possible that her father and mother were also brother and sister. According to tradition, Cleopatra married two of her brothers, and each of them acted as her ceremonial consort and regent in different periods her reign.
3. Cleopatra's beauty was not her greatest achievement.
Roman propaganda made Cleopatra a depraved seductress who used her sex appeal as a political weapon. Regardless, she should have been known for her intelligence rather than her looks. She spoke dozens of different foreign languages and was educated in mathematics, philosophy, rhetoric and astronomy. Egyptian sources later described her as a ruler who was elevated to the ranks of scholars and commanded their respect. There is also evidence that Cleopatra was not as attractive as is commonly believed. Coins bearing her portrait show a masculine face with a hooked nose, although some historians argue that she specifically ordered her image to be made more masculine and masculine-like. For his part, the ancient writer Plutarch argued that Cleopatra’s beauty was not so incomparable, but this was compensated for by her “caressing voice” and irresistible charm, which made her so desirable.
4. She had a hand in the deaths of three siblings
Forceful seizure of power and murder were as much a Ptolemaic tradition as marriage within the family, and Cleopatra and her brothers and sisters were no different. Her first husband, who was also her brother, Ptolemy XIII, kicked her out of Egypt when she tried to completely seize power, so the couple met during the civil war. Cleopatra managed to win because she formed an alliance with Julius Caesar, and Ptolemy drowned in the Nile after being defeated in battle. After the war, Cleopatra married her younger brother Ptolemy XIV, but it is assumed that he was also killed when she tried to make his son her co-ruler. In 41 BC. e. she also eliminated her sister Arsinoe, whom she considered a rival for the throne.
5. Cleopatra knew how to present herself better.
Cleopatra considered herself the living embodiment of the goddess and often played the role in front of her allies to gain their favor and strengthen her divine status. Famous example her talent for dramatic acting: in 48 BC. e., when, during her feud with her brother, Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria, knowing that Ptolemy would prevent her from meeting the Roman commander, she wrapped herself in a carpet. Some sources say it was a linen bag. Thus she was brought into Caesar's private chambers. The commander was blinded appearance young queen and agreed to become her ally.
Cleopatra used a similar idea a little later, in 41 BC. e., during a meeting with Mark Antony. When she rode to meet the Roman triumph at Tarsus, she ordered the construction of a golden barge with purple sails and oars decorated with silver. Outwardly, she resembled the goddess Aphrodite and sat under a gilded canopy, and her servants dressed as cupids burned sweet-smelling incense. Anthony, who considered himself the incarnation greek god Dionysus, was instantly captivated.
6. Cleopatra lived in Rome at the time of Caesar's assassination
Cleopatra joined Julius Caesar in Rome in 46 BC. e., and her presence caused quite a stir. Caesar did not hide the fact that they were lovers; she also brought their common child to the city. Many Romans were outraged when he placed a gilded statue of her in the Temple of Venus the Progenitor. Cleopatra was forced to flee when Caesar was assassinated in the Senate in 44 BC. e., but before that she managed to leave her mark on the city. Her exotic hairstyle with pearl jewelry became a fashion trend, and according to historian Joan Fletcher, many women began to imitate Cleopatra. Their statues have even been mistaken for images of Cleopatra herself.
7. Cleopatra and Mark Antony created their own club
The legendary romance between Cleopatra and Mark Antony began in 41 BC. e. Their relationship had a political basis. Cleopatra needed Antony to protect the throne and maintain Egypt's independence, while the commander needed access to the country's wealth. But they also loved spending time in each other's company. According to ancient sources, winter 41-40. BC e. they spent time together relaxing and enjoying the riches of Egypt, and even created their own club known as the Inimitable Liver. The club organized nightly feasts, and its members sometimes participated in difficult games and competitions. They say that Antony and Cleopatra's favorite pastime was to wander the streets of Alexandria in disguise and play pranks on the city's inhabitants.
8. She led the fleet in a sea battle
Cleopatra married Mark Antony and bore him three children, but their relationship also caused a public scandal in Rome. Antony's rival Octavian used propaganda to portray the general as a traitor who had fallen prey to the intrigue of a seductress. As a result, in 32 BC. e. The Roman Senate declared war on Cleopatra. The conflict reached its climax the following year, during the famous Battle of Actium. Cleopatra personally led several dozen Egyptian ships, but they were not enough to fight with navy Octaviana. The battle soon turned to rout, and Cleopatra and Anthony were forced to hide in Egypt.
9. Cleopatra may not have died from a snake bite
Cleopatra and Antony committed suicide in 30 BC. e., after Octavian pursued them to Alexandria. If there are no secrets with the death of Anthony (he killed himself with a sword), then the death of Cleopatra is not so clear. Legend has it that she died from an Egyptian cobra bite to the arm, but ancient chronicler Plutarch reports that no one knows the truth. He says that Cleopatra may have hidden a deadly poison in one of her combs, and the historian Strabo notes that she may have used the fatal "salve." Given this, many historians are inclined to believe that she could have used a pin dipped in some kind of powerful toxin, for example, snake venom.
10. The film about Cleopatra, shot in 1963, became one of the most expensive in the history of cinema.
In 1963, the film “Cleopatra” was shot. The film's original budget grew from $2 million to $44 million, and Taylor's costume costs alone totaled $200,000. It was the most expensive film at the time of its release, and it practically bankrupted the studio that made it. If we take inflation into account, it remains one of the most expensive today.
Many will agree that there is no more famous woman in history than Cleopatra. The world has known many great rulers, wise and cruel, fatal beauties, famous actresses, legendary athletes and representatives of the world of art. But the queen of Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, eclipsed everyone. She was exceptional - the last of the rulers of the great country located along the banks of the Nile, a woman of amazing beauty and charm.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (brief biography and description of appearance) is the focus of this article.
Pedigree
The great ruler belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty, founded by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. There is very little information about the birth and childhood of Cleopatra. It is known that she was one of the daughters of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy XII Auletes. Sources from those years say that the king had only one legitimate daughter, Berenice. Most likely, Cleopatra, the future queen of Egypt, was born in 69 BC. e. from Ptolemy's concubine. However, the king himself was also illegitimate.
The reign of the dynasty was never calm due to the constant struggle for power. Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, whose biography keeps many secrets, as a child witnessed the expulsion of her father from the country. Her sister Berenice becomes the ruler of Egypt. When, with the help of the Roman consul Gabinius, Ptolemy returned to his homeland, he began repression against those who contributed to his removal from power. The first victim of his wrath was Berenice.
Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, learned her lesson from what happened. In the future, she tried to eliminate all obstacles in her path in the form of possible rivals. Blood ties did not stop her either: the death of one of the queen’s co-ruler brothers, according to researchers, was her doing.
Beginning of reign
Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, came to power by legal means in 51 BC. e. She, together with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, was proclaimed heirs of Ptolemy Auletes, according to the latter’s will. She was about 17-18 years old, and the boy was even younger - about 9. The young queen had to learn the basics of government and diplomacy alone. At first, she managed to remove her younger brother from leadership of the state, but he managed to neutralize his older sister. Cleopatra was removed from the throne and expelled from the country. Power in the palace was concentrated in the hands of the eunuch Pothin, commander-in-chief of Achilles and teacher of the young king Theodat.
The young queen did not resign herself and began to gather an army against her brother. Ptolemy, having learned about this, came out with an army to block Cleopatra’s road to the country.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and Caesar: the history of relations
While the brother and sister were fighting for power in Egypt, bloodshed was going on in Rome. civil war, led by Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompey. The latter fled to Egypt, where he intended to enlist the help of Ptolemy, whose father owed the throne to the Roman senator. The young king’s advisers decided that helping Pompey would worsen Egypt’s situation. They sent him a friendly letter with a promise of support. In fact, it was decided after Pompey’s landing to kill him. People from the inner circle of the young king took part in this act of terrible treachery, and he watched the murder of a Roman while standing on the shore. By committing this atrocity, Ptolemy and his temporary workers wanted to show Caesar their devotion. Theodat presented the head of the Roman senator and his ring to Gaius Julius when he arrived in Alexandria a few days later. As ancient historians report, the great commander did not approve of the way his enemy was treated.
Caesar ordered Cleopatra and Ptolemy to disband their armies and come to him for trial. It was not possible for the queen to get into the palace without fear of being killed by her enemies. Then she resorted to a trick. A man devoted to her carried her into Caesar's chambers in a linen bag. Later, the meeting between Cleopatra and the great commander will be embellished, and the unromantic bag will be replaced with a carpet.
Caesar was fascinated by the young queen, and soon a relationship began between them. Despite Ptolemy's resistance, he declared him and Cleopatra co-rulers, reminding the Alexandrians of their father's will. Eunuch Pothinus was not going to let go of power so easily. From the moment Caesar arrived in Alexandria, he incited the people against the Romans. He managed to start an uprising. The Egyptian army, numbering 20 thousand soldiers, moved towards Caesar's palace. This war was called the Alexandrian War. The Roman commander had to fight at the head of a small army in the cramped streets of the city. He could not return to the ships - there was no way to break away from the Alexandrians who were pressing on the Romans. Then Caesar ordered the enemy's fleet to be burned to open the way for his army by sea. He could only rely on his legions rushing to help from Syria. When they finally arrived, Ptolemy was killed in the ensuing battle. How exactly this happened is unknown. The participants in the battle saw that the boat on which the young king was trying to escape was overloaded and capsized.
So Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, whose biography is extremely fascinating, became the sole ruler. She married her second brother, Ptolemy XIV, since, according to the law of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a woman could not rule. But in fact all power in the country was concentrated in her hands.
After Caesar left for Rome, she gave birth to his son, Ptolemy Caesar. The great commander did not forget the charming queen and after some time summoned her and her brother to the capital. They settled Cleopatra in one of Caesar's villas. Their relationship irritated the Romans. Rumors that he was going to marry an Egyptian and move the capital to Alexandria accelerated the preparation of a conspiracy against him.
A month after the assassination of Caesar, Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, returned to her homeland. Soon after this, her co-ruler, Ptolemy XIV, dies. Most likely, he was sent on her orders, after the birth of her son, she did not want to share power with anyone. The queen remembered well what happened to her father.
Mark Antony. Ten-year romance with the Roman consul
With the death of Caesar, the struggle for power began again in Rome. Cleopatra, as the sovereign queen of Egypt, used all her cunning and resourcefulness in this confrontation. Consul Mark Antony, who had launched a campaign against the Parthians in the East, was in dire need of money. He sends for the Egyptian queen, intending to accuse her of helping the murderers of Julius Caesar. Cleopatra, having learned from the arriving Roman officer about the habits and character of the consul, carefully prepared for the meeting. Knowing about his craving for luxury and vanity, she went to Anthony on a richly decorated ship. The queen dressed as Aphrodite, and the maids portrayed nymphs.
Having invited the consul to her dinner, she rejected all accusations of treason. Anthony easily believed this, fascinated by the beauty and charm of the queen. Thus began one of the most famous novels in history. The relationship between Antony and Cleopatra lasted ten years. Now it’s difficult to judge whether it was really great love. It is known for sure that the alliance was beneficial to both of them: the consul needed money, and Cleopatra needed a powerful patron. She gave birth to Antonia three children, which speaks at least about the duration and stability of their relationship.
War with Octavian
Acquaintance with Cleopatra cost Antony first political career, and then life. Love for her turned out to be fatal for the Roman consul. After meeting the queen, he was so fascinated by her that he went with Cleopatra to Alexandria. Here Anthony spent the winter in entertainment and feasts. While he was spending his time idly, Rome lost Syria and part of Asia Minor as a result of the Parthian advance. Only then did Anthony leave the queen.
Over the following years, he fought with the Parthians, and Cleopatra, thanks to his victories, practically restored the Ptolemaic empire. In Rome, dissatisfaction was brewing that Anthony was moving further and further from Roman traditions. Many saw a threat to Rome in Cleopatra's strong influence over the consul. Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, took advantage of this. Antony was his rival in the struggle for power. Having learned from the defectors about the consul's will, Octavian publicly announced it. In it, Antony declares the Egyptian queen his legal wife and recognizes her children as his own. This news completely discredited the consul in the eyes of his compatriots. A war began between Rome and Egypt. In 31 BC. e. in the naval battle of Actium, Cleopatra, unable to withstand the tension, fled, leaving Antony's fleet without support. He followed his beloved, and the ground forces, left without command, surrendered.
Death of the Queen
For the whole year after this, Cleopatra and Antony spent their time at feasts, without doing anything against Octavian. He is in the spring of 30 BC. e. was already under the walls of Alexandria. On August 1, Anthony was informed that the queen had committed suicide. The consul, driven into despair by this news, tried to stab himself with a sword, but only inflicted a deep wound on himself. A few hours later, he was lifted, bleeding and dying, into Cleopatra's barricaded chambers. That evening he died in her arms.
The queen tried to charm Octavian, as she had done with Caesar and Antony. Future Emperor Rima came to her chambers, and she threw herself at his feet in only a tunic, begging for mercy. However, the words of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, as well as her feminine charms, did not impress Octavian. He just encouraged her and left. The queen later learned from a Roman officer that in a few days she would suffer the fate of being carried around Rome during Octavian's triumph. Cleopatra wrote a letter and ordered it to be given to the conqueror Antony. In it she bequeathed to be buried with her husband. The Queen of Egypt and two servants were found dead by Octavian's men on August 12, 30 BC. e. There is a legend that Cleopatra used a poisonous snake to commit suicide, which was carried to her chambers in a basket of figs. This version seems doubtful, since the snake is not able to bite three people at once. According to the second, more plausible legend, the queen poisoned herself and her maids with poison stored in a hollow hairpin.
Octavian fulfilled Cleopatra's will - her and Anthony's bodies were embalmed and rested in the same grave.
Legends about the appearance of the famous ruler: historical truth or fiction?
Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, whose photo, of course, does not exist, was considered an amazing beauty for many centuries. How else could one explain the ease with which she won the hearts of the great commanders, Caesar and Antony? But if you study Plutarch’s information about her, you will be surprised to learn that her contemporaries did not consider her a beauty at all. But at the same time her charm was noted, very beautiful voice and mind. Cleopatra, without a doubt, had charm and attracted men to her, even without being a flamboyant charmer.
The few surviving images of the queen on coins and the marble bust from Shershell show a woman with wavy hair and a hooked nose. By modern standards, such an appearance is not considered incredibly beautiful, but rather ordinary.
Scientists have made attempts to reconstruct the queen’s appearance based on existing images, but their reliability is highly questionable.
Egyptian ruler in art
The story of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, has inspired artists for thousands of years. IN fiction Many works are dedicated to it, the most famous of which are Shakespeare's tragedy and Bernard Shaw's play. But most of all, the image of the great ruler is represented in fine art.
A woman of amazing beauty and intelligence - such was Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Many people painted paintings dedicated to this amazing woman. famous painters. On each canvas, the queen is presented in the image that the artists painted her in their imagination.
Michelangelo depicts her not with European, but rather with Negroid facial features. Eugene Delacroix depicted her sitting in thought.
In Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s painting “Cleopatra’s Feast,” the queen appears dressed in a dress of European cut (photo above). In a similar outfit, she can be seen in another painting by the artist - “The Meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra.”
But the most favorite motif in painting was the death of Cleopatra.
Actresses who played the role of the great ruler
Cinematography contributed to the romanticization of the image of Cleopatra. More than 20 films are dedicated to her, in which the famous queen was played by the most beautiful actresses in the world. Among them were Vivien Leigh, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Monica Bellucci.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt - biography for children and primary schoolchildren
The story of the last ruler of the great country on the banks of the Nile will be of interest to little history buffs. Suitable for them short story about Cleopatra - what dynasty she belonged to, who patronized the queen and where her burial is now located. The secret of the tomb of the great ruler ancient world will be interesting to children who love everything unknown and unusual. Scientists do not know where Cleopatra and Anthony were buried. If their burial is ever found, the significance of this discovery can only be compared with the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
A talented poetess, a skilled pharmacist, a femme fatale and an inaccessible beauty for all times, fallen victim a cruel and merciless plot against her beloved men. To this day, the story of Queen Cleopatra, her life, difficult fate And tragic death it remained mysterious and unsolved. For more than two thousand years, her image has been shrouded in a dense aura of mystery, which her descendants are trying in vain to reveal. However, scientists managed to find out something almost reliably. Let's figure out who it is and why her image remained bright and lively, despite the passing years.
Unsurpassed Cleopatra: biography of the earthly goddess
Surprisingly, even during this woman’s lifetime there were legends and myths about her, and her tragic death became the reinforcing factor that further romanticized her image. The aura of beauty and mystery, mysticism and mystery, the enthusiasm of ancient Roman authors and the efforts of modern filmmakers - all this made her one of the most famous and famous in all human history. If we talk about Hellenistic Egypt, then you definitely won’t find a ruler equal in fame.
Contrary to the beautiful legends, Cleopatra VII Philopator’s life was not at all so easy and simple. Deprived of her own choice, she married her own younger brothers twice, as prescribed by law. She gave birth to four children, and only then became the last ruler of her dynasty.
Briefly about the Queen of Egypt
Who Cleopatra is, from the moment of her birth to the present day, many people around the world already knew. The illegitimate daughter of a great ruler, shrouded in secrets and riddles. However, all scientists agree on one thing: she was extremely smart, educated, power-hungry and daring. But at the same time, the girl was distinguished by her special charisma and charm, prudence and even insight in her ability to find the right approach to people, and especially to men.
According to historical reports, the last queen of Egypt was fluent in not one or two, but thoroughly knew seven languages. Moreover, her education even allowed this girl to write books on such serious topics as measurements of mass, weight and the monetary system. She compiled several treatises on philosophy, and in addition to everything, she understood the secrets of beauty - she wrote books on primary cosmetology and hairdressing.
The greatest merit of the ruler was the fight against the invaders and fierce attempts to save her native Egypt from destruction by the Romans. But the most known facts about the woman can be considered her intimate relationship with Julius Caesar and touching affection for Mark Antony. She lived a rich, bright and beautiful life, like the flash of a comet in the night sky, and ended it with dignity, so descendants will never forget this woman with a difficult fate.
Goddess loving father
The events preceding the birth of the tiny girl Cleopatra were not at all peaceful. Her father, King Ptolemy XII of Egypt Neos Dionysus (Auletes) Philopator, was far from ideal. According to the testimony of Cicero, to whom we can safely refer, he was a noble reveler, loved orgies, played the flute himself, and was only interested in this. When in the fifty-ninth year BC the Roman ruler Julius Caesar wanted to annex Egypt to Rome, he preferred to pay off six thousand talents of silver (about one hundred and sixty tons) rather than engage in hostilities. At the same time, he completely resignedly gave Cyprus to the Romans, along with his unfortunate brother, who committed an act of suicide out of grief.
In the twelfth year of Ptolemy's reign of Egypt, on November 2, 1969, in the great city with the richest and largest library in the world - Alexandria - a tiny girl was born who was named Cleopatra. Her mother, most likely, was a concubine, since the ancient Greek historian and philosopher Strabo points out that the king had an only legitimate daughter, and her name was Berenice IV, who would later, having overthrown her father, become ruler for three years. At that time, the future queen herself was barely eleven years old, but she could already sensibly assess the situation.
ABOUT early childhood and youth, the story of Cleopatra is silent. Apparently, like other children, she was brought up in the palace, and received a very good education for that time. Then little attention was paid to girls and their education, because a man was supposed to sit on the throne, and a woman was supposed to brighten up his leisure time with her beautiful appearance. In our case, this number did not work, and since childhood the girl studied Greek, Berber, Hebrew, Latin, Aramaic, Arabic, and Syriac. Moreover, she was one of the few who was fluent in Egyptian, unlike most of the idle rulers of this submissive people.
Actual administration of Egypt
In March of the fifty-first year BC, the old emperor died, although he was not one by age. The wild lifestyle and sexually transmitted diseases that were common at that time probably played a role. He left a will in which he transfers the throne to his son Ptolemy XIII, who was only nine years old at that time, as well as to his daughter Cleopatra. Since a woman did not have the right to rule independently then, she had to marry her half-brother, although the marriage was formal. That same year, she ascended the throne with the title Thea Philopator (Θέα Φιλοπάτωρ), which literally means "Goddess who loves the father."
Interesting
The first three years of the reign of the new kings were extremely tense. First, the sister removed her little brother from the road, occupying him only with entertainment, games and other amusements. However, a year later he rebelled. With the help of the eunuch Pofin (Potin), a rhetorician from the island of Chios - Theodore, and also not without the participation of the famous commander Achilles, he managed to regain power, and Cleopatra had to flee and hide in Syria.
To be honest, such events did the girl good. She began to recruit soldiers who were ready to give their lives and souls for hard cash and world peace. military glory. In addition, Ptolemy's supporters inadvertently quarreled with their neighbors when it was decided to physically eliminate the fleeing senator Pompey. They killed the unfortunate man right in front of his entire retinue, with particular cynicism and cruelty. Rome could not tolerate this, despite its disagreements with Pompey. Caesar ordered the head of his rebellious subject to be buried near the walls of Alexandria, building a temple to the goddess Nemesis in that place.
Queen of Kings
Julius Caesar was a competent and perspicacious ruler, therefore, without making Egypt a Roman province, he decided to place Cleopatra on the throne, who could become an obedient doll in his hands. He ordered the girl to report to Alexandria, where she was taken under conditions of strict secrecy in a bag of bed linen. As soon as the emperor saw the beauty shedding tears at his feet, he immediately fell in love. Her fate was decided - according to the will, she was the first heir, which was beneficial to the Roman and made it possible to calm the agitated people.
After this, the situation became slightly more complicated, since the entire seven-thousand-strong guard of Julius was attacked by supporters of the murdered Pompey, who conspired with the fugitive thirteen-year-old Ptolemy. They managed to escape by pure chance - the king of Bosporus and the Asia Minor tetrarch (military leader) Mithridates of Pergamon approached the walls of the city. By mid-January 1947, the rebels were destroyed, and Cleopatra’s stupid brother himself drowned in the river while fleeing. To do everything according to the law, Caesar gave her in marriage to the second minor brother of Ptolemy XIV, after which festivities followed. During the celebration, more than four hundred ships passed along the Nile, on which the festivities were held. It was rumored that Julius was simply having fun with the queen there.
What Cleopatra looked like
It’s not easy to figure out what she really was like these days. She is surrounded by a romanticized image, portrayed in films by such beauties as Vivien Leigh or Elizabeth Taylor. Without a doubt, she had the family features of the Ptolemies: the girl had a large hooked nose, large dark eyes and slightly wavy hair. She had a strong and courageous character, without which she simply would not have been able to rule the country.
Historical evidence, for example, a badly damaged bust found near Cherchell in Algeria (Caesarea the Mauritanian), was created after her death, when her daughter was getting married. It is believed that the Hellenic images stored in the Berlin Museum are closest to the original, but their reliability is also questionable. Plutarch writes that, in addition to her colossal charm, this woman amazed with her melody, beauty of voice and literacy of speech, as well as the sharp and inquisitive mind of a researcher.
Glory of the destroyer of men
As a result of the conspiracy, Caesar was killed in March forty-four, and Cleopatra had to quietly go home so as not to fall “under distribution.” Soon after this, her husband, and also her young brother, unexpectedly died. The Jewish historian and military leader Josephus believed that he was poisoned by his “good wife” so that the boy would not get in the way. Although he showed no interest in government affairs anyway.
Returning to her homeland, Cleopatra discovered that famine was raging in the country. For two years in a row, there was a small flood of the Nile, drought incinerated almost all the crops, people sweltered from the heat, dried up from hunger and thirst. But the ruler didn’t care: balls were regularly thrown in the palace, magnificent drinks flowed like a river, and according to legend, the queen was even given baths of milk and honey. The woman herself falls into debauchery and debauchery, where the only payment for a night of pleasure is human life.
Perhaps all these are just legends and myths, but, as you know, usually such “slanders” do not arise out of nowhere. It is likely that the gossip about the ruler’s debauchery was told by Octavian, the great-nephew of Julius, who at that time was actively fighting for the Roman throne. The emergence of a powerful rival was somehow not part of his plans, so he figured out how to bring her down with the help of prehistoric propaganda. However, he did poorly.
Cleopatra and Caesar
Even before the conspiracy against Caesar arose, Cleopatra ingratiated herself into his trust and even became his mistress. Immediately after the man’s departure, at the end of June of the year forty-seven, the beauty gave birth to a boy, whose name was decided by Ptolemy Caesar, but the name Caesarion is more often used, given to the baby by the cunning inhabitants of the city, who understand “where legs grow from.” They say that in his gait, his face, and even his speech, he was an exact copy of Caesar.
In '46, he invited her and her husband to Rome, supposedly to conclude a peace treaty. The Egyptian queen lived in a villa near the city, in luxury and prosperity, which greatly outraged the people. People were afraid that the ruler would marry a non-Christian and suffer main city to Alexandria. The last straw was the gilded statue of the queen, installed by the emperor near the altar of Venus. Until the murder, Julius never recognized his son, therefore he never received formal rights to the throne of Rome, and in the end he was completely killed by Octavian at the age of seventeen.
Mark Antony and the Pearl of the Nile
In forty-one, the twenty-eight-year-old beauty first saw Mark Antony, who immediately fell in love with her. He was stately, handsome, a skilled and fearless warrior with an excellent reputation. It was rumored that he noticed the girl at a time when she was only fourteen, but this fact was not supported by documentation. After the division of Rome, in which he received the eastern part, he decided to implement the plans of his predecessor and capture the Parthians.
But this requires means that the man did not have, but the Egyptian queen did. He summoned her to his residence in Cilicia, wanting to demand a ransom for the murder of Caesar, in which she was allegedly involved. Everything worked out, just a little differently than Mark planned. She arrived on a gilded boat, dressed as Aphrodite, surrounded by maids dressed as nymphs and shrouded in incense. The man could not resist and collapsed into the arms of the temptress - this is how a romance began, one of the most famous in the history of mankind.
The Egyptian queen rejected all the accusations, explained all the discrepancies, and her money perfectly helped support the Roman legions. Therefore, Anthony did not complain, but enjoyed life, at the same time fulfilling all the whims of his beloved. He spent the winter from '41 to his term in Alexandria, indulging in drunkenness and debauchery. Meanwhile, the empire gradually lost its territories, conquered with such difficulty by his ancestors. It is worth understanding that all this time the ruler was married to Fulvia, who tried with all her might to snatch her husband from the clutches of the Egyptian harlot, but she could not - she died of a “nervous illness.”
Already in the fortieth year, throughout the Roman Empire and in Egypt, as well as in the lands surrounding these countries, only the lazy did not know what Cleopatra was famous for. She gave birth to Mark's twins: a girl, Cleopatra Selene, and a boy, Alexander Helios (Moon and Sun). For three years, the queen was engaged in raising her offspring, and in the meantime Anthony himself placed the notorious Herod on the throne of Judea, whose name later became a household name. In '37 he set out on a campaign against the Parthians, but a year later the campaign failed due to the harsh winter and bad weather conditions. A lot of money was actually thrown down the drain. And by the thirty-sixth, Cleopatra gave birth to a third child from Mark - Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Confrontation with Octavian
After a successful campaign against Armenia, Anthony went to celebrate with his beloved and her children in Alexandria, which led first to confusion and then to indignation in Rome. He boldly distributed crowns and lands, without taking into account anything other than the words of his queen. As a result, this ended badly - in Rome they began to openly show indignation at the unreasonable actions of the ruler. Octavian, who was considered the adopted son of Caesar, became a particularly zealous opponent. In the thirty-second year it came to an outright civil war.
Octavian turned out to be a skillful and cunning commander, or rather, he found a truly outstanding strategist, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. He crossed the river and forced battles on Mark on his own territory. It is not entirely clear why Cleopatra was not in the city at that time, but her constant intrigues within the camp led to the fact that many famous warriors simply went over to the side of Octavian, who professed Roman traditions. In addition, the emperor’s will was published, where the capital was transferred to Egypt, the harlot was recognized as a wife, and the children were recognized as legitimate. This was the last straw.
Death of the fatal temptress
The naval battle of Actium in September thirty-one was decisive. Cleopatra, having grabbed the remaining ships, began to actively run home, Antony rushed after her, whose fleet and army surrendered to the enemy almost without a fight, and Octavian rushed after them. The woman wanted to save Caesarion, and she herself was not averse to sitting out in India, but Arab pirates were waiting in the Isthmus of Suez, and such an idea had to be abandoned. In the thirtieth year, at the head of the army, the enemy moved to Alexandria. Later short time the city was captured, and its former ruler locked herself in her own tomb with two maids.
At the same time, Mark was told that the woman had committed suicide. In despair, he threw himself on his sword in front of the doors of her tomb. The maidservants dragged him inside, and he died right in the arms of his sobbing lover. All these events are described in detail by Plutarch, who has no reason not to believe, because he received information from Olympus, the queen’s personal physician. She began to starve, but Octavian threatened to execute the children, and Cleopatra was forced to retreat.
It was not possible to seduce him, because after learning that she would be taken to Rome as a trophy to celebrate the victory, the woman poisoned herself. There are theories that a snake was used for this, but it is more likely that the poison was stored in a hollow hair pin. Caesarion was soon executed, and there was no information left about his younger brothers. But the fate of their sister, Cleopatra Selene II, is well known. She was married to the Moorish ruler Yuba II. In the eighth year of the twenty-first century, archaeologist Zahi Hawass announced that he had found the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, located under the Temple of Osiris.
In memory of the last queen of Egypt
This an unusual woman, which managed to win the hearts of even those who never knew her, outstanding artists have dedicated their works in all centuries. There is a tragedy by Shakespeare, operas by Johann Matteson and Franz Pönitz, and a play by Bernard Shaw about the life and death of Cleopatra. Artists such as Giampetrino, Andrea Vaccaro, Hans Makart, Jean-Andre Rixan and Guido Cagnacci dedicated their works to her.
Since the nineteenth century, feature and documentary films have been made in honor of the Egyptian queen. This “parade” was opened in 1899 by director Georges Méliès, who cast actress Jeanne D’Alsi as the heroine. The latest film incarnation can be considered the Russian television series “The Boundary of Time,” where the role of an unsurpassed beauty was played by Evgenia Shcherbakova.
Interesting facts about the most seductive of women
The beautiful Egyptian woman's full name was Cleopatra Thea Philopator VII. This means that before her there were six more women who bore exactly that name.
Despite the inability of women to formally become rulers, Cleopatra was precisely the pharaoh. Moreover, she happened to become the last pharaoh. After her death, Egypt was officially reclassified as a Roman province.
It is this Egyptian queen who is credited with the invention of waxing - hair removal. Only she did not use pure wax, as women prefer these days, but a special mixture of aromatic resins.
Plutarch, according to Cleopatra’s physician, describes her collection of various poisons. The woman collected them for years and tested their effects on slaves and prisoners.
The Egyptian princess's father, Ptolemy, was the first to marry his own sister, which marked the beginning of such a tradition. Since then, close family ties have become familiar and normal among rulers.
There is a version that the queen died not from a snake bite, but from hemlock tincture. She wanted to keep her body just as beautiful after death, so this option is quite likely.
Name Cleopatra shrouded in mysteries: it is often said about her lovers that they paid with their lives for possessing her for one night, legends are made about her beauty, and her dramatic suicide still excites the minds of both romantics and historians. By the way, leaving life last queen Hellenistic Egypt is a controversial issue. Scientists still doubt whether it really happened suicide?
Cleopatra was born in 69 BC, and spent her entire life in Alexandria. For more than three centuries, her family ruled Egypt. Cleopatra had an excellent education and spoke seven languages. Amazingly, there were no cases of suicide among her ancestors, but violent deaths- plenty. Perhaps it was this fact that made historians doubt the queen’s voluntary death.
According to historians, Cleopatra had an explosive temper and was very cruel. So, at the age of 18, she married her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, but did not want to share the throne with him. Soon after Ptolemy matured and declared his rights, Cleopatra turned to Julius Caesar for help to help her become the sole ruler of Egypt. Having entered into a formal marriage with another brother, Ptolemy XIV, Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Caesar, named Caesarion. Having a formal co-ruler, the fearless queen poisoned Ptolemy XIV.
A turning point in Cleopatra's life was her acquaintance with the Roman commander Mark Antony. The queen charmed the Roman with her beauty, at her request he even executed Arsinia, sister Cleopatra (in those cruel times these were manifestations of sympathy). A few years after they met, Cleopatra gave birth to Mark Antony’s son Alexander Helios (“Sun”) and daughter Cleopatra Selene (“Moon”). happy life The love affair between the rulers did not last long: a civil war was brewing, in which Octavian spoke out against Mark Antony. According to historical records, after his defeat at the Battle of Actium, Mark Antony committed suicide when he received false news of Cleopatra's suicide. The queen herself followed his example a few days later.
According to the most common version, Cleopatra died from a snake bite, having previously transmitted suicide note Octavian. Scientists suggest that the effect of the poison would have taken at least several hours, while the note was delivered to Octavian immediately and he could well have had time to save the queen.
A more likely version seems to be that Octavian himself became the murderer of Cleopatra. Using the queen as a pawn to start a war with Mark Antony, who controlled the east of the Roman Empire, Octavian achieved desired result. To protect Caesarion, Cleopatra sent him to Ethiopia, but Octavian found the heir to the throne and gave the order to kill him. On the way to the throne, Octavian had only Cleopatra left.
According to recent studies, Cleopatra could have died not from a snake bite, but from taking a poisonous cocktail. The Egyptians knew a lot about poisons, the mixture that the queen took contained opium, aconite and hemlock. And today it is completely unclear whether the decision to poison himself was voluntary, or whether someone else was involved in this.
The mystery of Cleopatra's death has not yet been solved. Scientists can only speculate, because we are no longer able to return to the events that happened 2000 years ago. True, the history of Ancient Egypt reminds itself from time to time. So, in 1992 there was. However, was this event also a grandiose hoax?