Cleopatra VII (69 - 30 BC) - the last queen of Egypt, the most famous woman ancient times.
Queen-courtesan, evil genius of Egypt. Cunning, cruel, cowardly and treacherous, who built her well-being on the misfortunes of others, in the end she had to die, entangled in the networks of her own intrigues.
Intelligent and educated, Cleopatra is perhaps the most legendary woman in the world. Cleopatra mastered the rare art of charming people, and since the power was still in the hands of men, the Egyptian successfully used her talents in the field of love. Possessing beauty, passion and intelligence, she could be the second Semiramis. But, being a slave to her desires, she remained only a courtesan.
Cleopatra came from the remarkable Greek family of Ptolemies. The closest associate of Alexander the Great, his childhood friend Ptolemy I Soter (Savior), asked for Egypt, a beautiful land full of secrets, as a military reward. When his great ruler died, Ptolemy embalmed Alexander's corpse, departed for his kingdom and settled in Alexandria, named after the Macedonian. In Alexandria he gained fame as a wise, enlightened ruler.
In July 51 BC. The ruler of Egypt died, bequeathing the throne to his eldest children: the beautiful Cleopatra and thirteen-year-old Ptolemy-Dionysus. Following Egyptian custom, they immediately married each other.
Cleopatra grew up in the outstanding center of that time - Alexandria. Poetry, arts, sciences found shelter in this city, and at the courts of the Egyptian kings there were quite a few outstanding poets and artists. The beauty received an excellent education and spoke several languages fluently, studied philosophy, was well acquainted with literature and played various instruments. She was an educated, intelligent girl who inherited a political mind from her ancestors. But at the same time, she had a voluptuous nature. To satisfy her desires, Cleopatra kept many handsome men. In those days it was not at all considered immoral.
Evidence from a contemporary has been preserved, who writes that Cleopatra appointed death at the cost of her love and that there were admirers who were not frightened by such a condition. For the night spent with the queen, the madmen paid with their lives, and their heads were exhibited in front of the temptress's palace!
After her marriage to the young Ptolemy XII, it seemed that power itself came to Cleopatra, but fate prepared an absurd incident for her. Young Ptolemy XII was raised by the eunuch Pofin, who dreamed that with the accession of his pupil he would become the main ruler of the country.
No reliable images of Clepatra have survived. There are several ancient busts of Cleopatra, the most reliable is the Algerian bust of Cleopatra, now located in the Berlin Museum of Antiquity, created after her death on the occasion of the wedding of Cleopatra’s daughter. Some scientists believe that this is a bust of Cleopatra herself in her recent years, others believe that the bust does not depict Cleopatra, but her daughter. Images of Cleopatra have been preserved on coins cast during her reign, but it is difficult to say to what extent they reflect her actual appearance.
The ancient Greek historian Plutarch, who saw the portrait of Cleopatra, in the biography of Mark Antony describes Cleopatra’s appearance as follows: “the beauty of this woman was not what is called incomparable and amazes at first sight, but her manner was distinguished by irresistible charm, and therefore her appearance, combined with rare persuasiveness speeches, with enormous charm, shining through in every word, in every movement, firmly engraved into the soul. The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her language was precise. multi-string instrument, easily attuned to any mood - to any dialect, so that only with very few barbarians did she speak through an interpreter, and most often she herself talked with strangers - Ethiopians, troglodytes, Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Medes, Parthians... They say that she She also studied many languages, while the kings who ruled before her did not even know Egyptian, and some forgot Macedonian.”
Bust of Cleopatra VII from Cherchell in Algiers (Berlin Antique Collection)
The Roman historian Sextus Aurelius Victor, who had a negative attitude towards Cleopatra, writes about her this way: “She was so depraved that she often prostituted herself, and had such beauty that many men paid with their death for possessing her for one night.” However, Roman sources describing Cleopatra should not be trusted, because Cleopatra in the eyes of the Romans was an enemy, and the ancient historiography of Cleopatra was inspired by Cleopatra’s conqueror, Emperor Octavian Augustus, who did not at all want to idealize her.
At first, Cleopatra ruled alone, removing her young brother, but then the latter gained revenge, relying on the eunuch Pothinus (who was something like the head of government) and the commander Achilles.
At this time, there was a civil war in the Roman Republic between Caesar and Pompey. Defeated, Pompey fled to Egypt, hoping to find support, but was killed by Ptolemy's entourage, who hoped to gain Caesar's favor. However, Caesar, having arrived in Egypt, was angry at the reprisal against Pompey. Caesar decides to restore order in Egypt, torn apart by the strife between Cleopatra and her brother. Plutarch, in his biography of Caesar, describes the first meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra:
“Cleopatra, taking with her only one of her friends, Apollodorus of Sicily, got into a small boat and, at nightfall, landed near the royal palace. Since it was otherwise difficult to remain unnoticed, she climbed into a bed bag and stretched out in it to her full length. Apollodorus tied the bag with a belt and carried it through the courtyard to Caesar. They say that this cunning of Cleopatra seemed bold to Caesar and captivated him. Finally conquered by Cleopatra’s courtesy and her beauty, he reconciled her with the king so that they could reign together.”
A rebellion began against Caesar in Egypt, which Caesar managed to suppress. King Ptolemy died. Cleopatra, formally united with her other young brother Ptolemy XIV, actually became the undivided ruler of Egypt under the Roman protectorate, the guarantee of which was the three legions left in Egypt.
Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Caesar, who was named Caesarion.
In the summer of 46 BC. Caesar summons Cleopatra to Rome (formally, to conclude an alliance between Rome and Egypt). Cleopatra was given Caesar's villa in his gardens on the banks of the Tiber. There was even a rumor that Caesar was going to take Cleopatra as his second wife and move the capital to Alexandria. Caesar himself ordered a gilded statue of Cleopatra to be placed at the altar of Venus the Progenitor (Venus as the mythical ancestor of the Julian family to which he belonged). However, Caesar did not dare to officially recognize Caesarion as his son.
Caesar was killed as a result of a conspiracy on March 15, 44 BC. e. A month later, in mid-April, Cleopatra left Rome and arrived in Alexandria in July. Shortly after this, 14-year-old Ptolemy XIV died. According to Josephus, he was poisoned by his sister: the birth of a son gave Cleopatra a formal co-ruler. In this situation, her growing brother was completely unnecessary to her.
A civil war began in Rome between Caesar's killers, Cassius and Brutus, on the one hand, and his heirs Antony and Octavian, on the other. Antony and Octavian won. During the division of the Roman world, carried out after the defeat of the Republicans, Antony got the East. Antony, planning a war with the Parthians, arrives in Egypt to secure Egyptian help. At the time of their meeting, Cleopatra was 29 years old, Antony was 40. The queen arrived at the meeting with Antony, according to Plutarch, “on a boat with a gilded stern, purple sails and silvered oars, which moved to the tune of a flute, harmoniously combined with the whistling of pipes and the clanking of citharas .
The queen rested under a canopy embroidered with gold in the headdress of Aphrodite, as the painters depict her, and on both sides of the bed stood boys with fans - like Eros in paintings. In the same way, the most beautiful slaves were dressed as Nereids and Charites and stood some at the stern oars, some at the ropes. Wonderful incense rose from countless incense burners and spread along the banks."
Anthony was completely captivated by Cleopatra. Their romance lasted more than 10 years until their death. Cleopatra had three children with Antony.
By 32 BC. Relations between former allies - Antony and Octavian - finally turned from friendly to hostile. Anthony, infatuated with Cleopatra and breaking up with his official wife Octavia (Octavian’s sister), who distributed Roman lands to Cleopatra’s children, began to look like a traitor in the eyes of the Romans. At the Battle of Actium on September 2, 31 BC. e. The fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra lost, the defeated returned to Egypt and tried to escape to India, but when they tried to drag the ships across the Isthmus of Suez, they were burned by the Arabs. The escape plan had to be abandoned.
When Octavian reached Egypt, Antony committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Cleopatra tried to seduce Octavian or at least come to an agreement with him, but this time the charms of the 39-year-old queen were powerless. Octavian wanted to take Cleopatra as a prisoner to Rome to take part in his triumph, but Cleopatra committed suicide. This happened12 August 30 BC
According to the most common version, Cleopatra died from a snake bite, but the snake was not found in the room. According to another, more plausible version, Cleopatra was poisoned. This version is supported by the quick death of Cleopatra, the fact that shortly before her death she tested poisons on prisoners, and finally, the fact that two dead maids were found with Cleopatra (it is doubtful that one snake killed three people). Octavian tried unsuccessfully to revive Cleopatra with the help of the Psylli, an exotic tribe that knew how to suck out poison without harming itself.
Cleopatra was buried with honors, next to Anthony.
The death of Cleopatra deprived Octavian of a brilliant captive at his triumph in Rome. In the triumphal procession they carried only her statue.
Caesar's adopted son Octavian executed own son Caesar from Cleopatra to Ptolemy XV Caesarion in the same year.
Antony's children walked in chains at the triumphant parade, then were raised by Octavian's sister Octavia, Antony's wife, "in memory of her husband." Subsequently, Cleopatra's daughter, Cleopatra Selene II, was married to the Moorish king Juba II, which is why the bust of Cleopatra from Cherchell appeared.
Drawing of Cleopatra's mausoleum
The image of Cleopatra has been depicted many times in cinema. Most famous performer The role of Cleopatra is played by Elizabeth Taylor, who left us on March 23. The film "Cleopatra" with Elizabeth Taylor in leading role was released in 1963.
Elizabeth Teiloff's predecessors in playing the role of Cleopatra were no less famous actresses- Vivien Leigh (film "Caesar and Cleopatra", 1945) and Sophia Loren (film "Two Nights with Cleopatra", 1953).
Among the modern incarnations of Cleopatra in cinema, one can note, for example, Monica Bellucci in the film “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra”.
What was the secret?success of the queen of Egypt:
Mind games
Thinking through every detail of any situation, all your steps and tactics. It was not without reason that, of all the men of her time, she preferred Julius Caesar and was able to win him with her courage and unusualness.
Games of love
Cleopatra understood perfectly well that if a man is experienced in love, it is quite difficult to keep him for a long time; to do this, you need to constantly surprise him and show yourself from a new side.
Spouse games
Thanks to distracting her beloved from anger and anger with all sorts of pleasant little things, Cleopatra knew how to avoid marital quarrels and scandals. Having married Antony, she was with her beloved man until the end of her life, despite all the obstacles, of which there were quite a few.
Games of fate
Everyone knows that Cleopatra, without fear, tempted fate and loved to take risks. Several times, canceling meetings with Anthony, she could easily lose him, but to last meeting I prepared a wonderful gift for him - an excellent ship.
Inimitable games
You can never imitate anyone, you must always remain yourself, as unique as you are. Cleopatra knew how to do this with special talent, as a result of which Antony forgot his Roman wife Octavia.
Deadly games
Do not be afraid of death - this is Cleopatra’s main motto. Realizing that she and Anthony were doomed, she thoroughly studied death from all known angles and decided to die with a viper bite.
Many will agree that there is no more famous woman than Cleopatra. The world has known many great rulers, wise and cruel, fatal beauties, famous actresses, legendary athletes and representatives of the art world. 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 holds 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 declared the 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, the commander-in-chief of Achilles and the 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 fought for power in Egypt, a bloody civil war was going on in Rome, 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 young king’s inner circle 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, doing nothing 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 to commit suicide, Cleopatra used a poisonous snake that 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 of the ancient world will be of interest 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.
Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in the film "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945)
Quotes: 1. Men are not Gods... They don’t need our souls. 2. Every day is like the last! 3. Never fight a strong person until you are just as strong yourself! 4. There was an imprint of eternity on our lips and eyes. 5. We welcome all strange and terrible events, but we despise comfortable ones.
Achievements:
Professional, social position: Cleopatra was the ruler of Egypt from 51 to 30 AD. BC
Main contribution (known for): Cleopatra, during her 21-year reign, revived and preserved the identity of Egypt. She is the image and example of a woman who uses her intelligence, ingenuity and charm to conquer powerful husbands and achieve her goals.
Deposits: Cleopatra was a member of the Hellenic aristocracy, her ancestors were Macedonians who spoke a dialect Greek language However, she became the first ruler of the dynasty to learn the Egyptian language.
She also adopted and revived the customs, deities and rites of ancient Egypt. She adopted the symbol of the Goddess Hathor, the daughter of the Sun God Ra.The goddess Isis was considered her patroness and, as a result, during her reign it was believed that she was the reincarnation and embodiment of the goddess of wisdom.
The young queen of Egypt may have saved her country from becoming a province of the expanding Roman Empire.
All this influenced the creation of the image of Cleopatra in culture, as a woman who used her charm to conquer the most influential husbands of the Western world.
The death of Cleopatra marks the end of the Hellenistic period of Ptolemaic rule and the beginning of the Roman era in the eastern Mediterranean.
Life:
Origin: She was born in 69 BC in Alexandria. Cleopatra's father Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus was a direct descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, and her mother Cleopatra V was Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra was the third daughter in the family. She also had a younger sister and two younger brothers.
Education:
Cleopatra received good education, especially in the area foreign languages. Her natural talent allowed her to be fluent in her native Greek, Egyptian, Aramaic, Ethiopian, Persian, Hebrew, Berber and Latin.
Main stages of activity:
Board: 51 BC - August 12, 30 BC
Her co-rulers:
Ptolemy XIII (51 - 47 BC)
Ptolemy XIV (47 - 44 BC)
Caesarion (44 - 30 BC)
She was the last pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty, of Macedonian origin, who ruled Egypt starting in 304 BC. Cleopatra ruled Egypt with her two brothers and husbands Ptolemy XIII (51 - 47 BC) and Ptolemy XIV (47 - 44 BC) and with her son, Ptolemy XV, or Caesarion ( 44 - 30 BC).
Her whole life was spent in a complex struggle for power, in which she skillfully used her natural intelligence, charm and beauty.
As a child, Cleopatra was greatly impressed by the uprising of 58-55, during which her father Ptolemy XII was overthrown and expelled from Egypt, and Cleopatra's sister Berenice became queen. Her father was later restored to the throne with the help of the Roman governor of Syria, Gabinius. Ptolemy XII began brutal repressions during which her sister Berenice also died.
When in March 51 BC. e. Her father died, 18-year-old Cleopatra and her brother 12-year-old Ptolemy XIII began to jointly rule Egypt. In 50 BC Cleopatra came into serious conflict with the troops of the Roman governor Gabinius and soon lost power. She tried to start a rebellion around Sin, but was defeated and was forced to go into hiding with her sister Arsinoe.
During civil war in Rome, in 48 BC. Pompey fled from Caesar to Alexandria. By order of 15-year-old Ptolemy, Pompey was beheaded in front of his wife and children. When Caesar arrived in Egypt two days later, Ptolemy presented him with the severed head of Pompey. And although Pompey was an enemy of Caesar, this angered him and Cleopatra immediately saw an opportunity to use Caesar’s anger towards Ptolemy for her own purposes.
When they met, Caesar was struck by Cleopatra's intelligence and extraordinary beauty and subsequently helped her become the sole ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy XIII died fighting against Caesar and Cleopatra was restored to the throne. She married her second brother, Ptolemy XIV, but was effectively the sole ruler of Egypt.
In 46 BC. Caesar invited her to Rome. She was visiting him in Rome just at the time he was killed on March 15, 44 BC as a result of a conspiracy. In April of the same year, Cleopatra returned to Alexandria, where Ptolemy XIV soon died under mysterious circumstances. After that she made her little son Caesarion as his partner on the throne.
After 37 BC e. she and Antony jointly opposed Rome, and in 32 BC. Rome declared war on Cleopatra, viewing their union as a threat to the Roman Empire and Octavian.
After defeat at the naval Battle of Actium (31 BC), Cleopatra and Antony attempted to make peace with Octavian, but were unsuccessful. Alexandria was surrendered in 30 BC and Antony and then Cleopatra committed suicide.
Main stages of personal life: In 48 BC Cleopatra met Julius Caesar, who arrived in Egypt in pursuit of Pompey. She entered Caesar's palace wrapped in a carpet, which was intended as a gift for Caesar. Cleopatra skillfully took advantage of the situation and defeated Caesar with her ingenuity, courage and beauty.
Although Cleopatra was only 21 and he was 52 years old when she met Caesar, they became lovers and their love affair continued throughout Caesar's stay in Egypt from 48 to 47 BC.
Nine months after their first meeting, in '47. BC Cleopatra gave birth to his child. He was named Caesar or Caesarion by Ptolemy, meaning "little Caesar".
In 41 BC e. she agreed to meet Mark Antony on her ship at Tarsus in Cilicia. Legend has it that Cleopatra dressed as the Roman goddess of love, Venus. She filled her ship with so many rose petals that the Romans smelled the scent before they saw her ship. At dusk o a huge ship made of precious wood, under scarlet sails Andto the sounds of gentle music, approached Anthony. When night fell, bright lights flashed on the ship.
She charmed Anthony and subsequently gave birth to twins: a boy, Alexander Helios (“Sun”), and a girl, Cleopatra Selene (“Moon”).
Cleopatra hoped to bind Anthony to herself, but in the spring of 40 BC. he left Egypt. Antony returned to Rome and married Octavian's cousin Octavia. They had two daughters. But in 37 BC. he fled back to Cleopatra.
He married her in 36 BC. and she bore him another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus.
In 31 BC. Cleopatra tried to negotiate with Octavian for recognition of her children as the legal successors of Egypt. But since Octavian demanded Anthony’s death in return, Cleopatra refused. After Antony committed suicide, Cleopatra followed suit, committing suicide by snakebite on August 12, 30 BC. e.
Her son Caesarion, who was declared pharaoh, was killed by order of Octavian.
Personality.Cleopatra was famous for her beauty, intelligence and character, which unusually combined power and female sexuality.
Cleopatra was a charming, seductive and at the same time intelligent and educated woman who spoke 9 languages. She was distinguished by personal courage and magnetism and had sufficient personal strength to be feared by the Romans.
Cassius Dio spoke of Cleopatra's attractiveness: “She was a woman of extraordinary beauty and in the very prime of her youth, she slayed with her charm. She also had the most captivating voice and the knowledge of how to please everyone."
Highlight: Cleopatra, had Macedonian, Greek and Iranian genes. On the coins, Cleopatra is depicted in profile, with wavy hair, large eyes, a prominent chin and a hooked nose. In his Pensées, the philosopher Blaise Pascal argued that Cleopatra's classically beautiful profile changed world history: “If Cleopatra’s nose were shorter, the whole appearance of the world would change.” However, some historians believed that she was not beautiful and had many masculine features.
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 the right to choose, 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 famous 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 had to sit on the throne, and a woman had 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, 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 married her 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 nose with a hump, large dark eyes and a 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 held regularly 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 should be understood 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
Outstanding artists throughout the centuries have dedicated their works to this unusual woman, who managed to win the hearts of even those who never knew her. There is a tragedy by Shakespeare, operas by Johann Mattheson 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.
The name of Cleopatra is known to everyone - she was not only an outstanding ruler of Egypt, but also an amazing woman. More than two thousand years have passed since her death, but she is still remembered as one of the individuals who changed history.
Cleopatra was not a beauty by any standards Ancient Egypt, nor according to modern canons. However, she managed to fall in love with two powerful Roman generals and completely subordinate them to her influence. She was an unusual woman and had extraordinary intelligence.
What else do you remember about Cleopatra?
- Cleopatra remained in history as the most famous ruler of Egypt. But it is worth noting that she originally came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, who migrated from Greece during the reign of Alexander the Great. Thus, Cleopatra, although born in Egypt, was not an Egyptian at all, but a representative of the ancient Greek dynasty.
- Who knows about other Cleopatras? Nobody! But the famous Egyptian queen was the seventh in a dynasty named after Cleopatra. Much is known about her father - he was the ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy XII. But the identity of the mother still remains a mystery. There is a version that she was the half-sister of the king himself, since relationships and marriages between brothers and sisters were the norm in this dynasty. It is absolutely certain that Cleopatra was not the legitimate child of Ptolemy XII, since he officially recognized only one daughter - Berenice IV.
- Cleopatra's name when she ascended the throne was Thea Philopator (Θέα Φιλοπάτωρ), which translated means “the goddess who loves her father.” Afterwards she added “lover of the fatherland” to the title and became known as Fea Neotera Philopator Philopatris.
- Cleopatra had an extraordinary intellect and spoke at least nine languages. She was the only one of all the kings of her dynasty who learned the Egyptian language for 300 years. Before this, the Ptolemies spoke only Greek and did not bother learning the language of the country in which they ruled and lived. In addition to Greek and Egyptian, she knew Hebrew, Ethiopian, Aramaic, Persian and even Latin.
- In addition to linguistics, she also studied mathematics, astronomy, public speaking and philosophy. The queen, again alone of all her predecessors, accepted the religion and culture of Egypt. Before her reign, the Ptolemies were not interested in the gods and customs of their people.
- She married her brothers, that was the law in those days. Despite her uniqueness, Cleopatra could not rule alone, without a male co-ruler. Therefore, she had, like many of her predecessors, to marry first one brother and then another. But she did not feel safe, since her brothers always wanted to take the throne from her. After their death, she gave birth to a son and secured a carefree future for herself, as she made the boy her co-ruler.
- Cleopatra's younger brother and her first legal husband did not want to put up with his sister's power. Therefore, a war broke out between them, which forced the queen to flee to Syria. Ptolemy XIII entered into an alliance with Caesar, but made the wrong move and killed the noble Roman Pompey. This turned the Roman commander away from his brother, and Caesar turned his attention to Cleopatra. He helped the queen overthrow her brother and regain her throne.
@thegreatcoursesplus.com - According to legend, Cleopatra snuck into Caesar's chambers wrapped in a carpet. The losing queen understood that she could change the balance of power only by meeting Caesar in person. And she did not miscalculate - Caesar immediately became interested in her, although she was then 21 years old, and he was already 52.
- According to rumors, Cleopatra was involved in the death of her brothers and sister. The first brother, Ptolemy XIII, drowned in the river while fleeing, very fortunate for Cleopatra. Sister Arsinoe was executed by order of the queen on the steps of a Roman temple. And the younger brother died after poisoning at the age of 14 years. This played into the hands of Cleopatra, who at that time gave birth to a son and could make him a co-ruler. She didn't need a growing brother who could encroach on her power.
- Her arrival as Caesar's mistress in Rome was triumphant. They hated her, but they imitated her; Roman women began to style their hair like hers and wear pearl jewelry. She was in Rome at the time of her lover's murder and was forced to flee home to Egypt.
- Cleopatra never got lost in the crowd. Her contemporaries noted the amazing charm and charm that the queen exuded. She took very good care of herself - she took milk baths, had in her arsenal a scrub, masks and shampoos made from egg yolks and honey. Cleopatra loved incense and selected aromatic oils for different purposes.
@neolaia.gr - Both of her affairs were scandalous, because the men were already married and had heirs in Rome. However, after Caesar, Cleopatra easily fell in love with his successor Mark Antony. For the first impression, she dressed as Aphrodite and arrived on a ship that more closely resembled the abode of the gods. She became his lover and faithful companion; she hunted with him, drank wine and had feasts.
- Mark Antony and Cleopatra had three children. The first to be born were twins, a girl and a boy, named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Translated, their middle names mean “Sun” and “Moon”.
- The love between Mark Antony and Cleopatra led to the fact that in Rome the commander was considered a traitor. Octavian defeated the lovers' forces in a naval battle, leading to their flight and downfall. None of Cleopatra's children survived, and Caesar's son Caesarion was executed by his half-brother Octavian.
- Mark Antony and Cleopatra, as agreed, committed suicide after their defeat. He threw himself on the sword, and she, according to assumptions, died from snake venom. Historians are still arguing how she managed to die in a locked room guarded by Octavian’s soldiers. It is worth noting that this is not the only mystery of her death. The tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony has not yet been found.
Cleopatra became the last queen of Egypt and a representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty. After her death, Egypt, which was ruled by Greek kings but had freedom, became a Roman province. This amazing woman, who died at the age of 39, became a symbol of the fall of Egypt as the greatest civilization of the Ancient World.
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