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 brightest and most charming figures of antiquity, but many facts about her life are either unknown or remain myths. You have the opportunity to learn 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 Greek-speaking rulers. 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 served as her ceremonial consort and regent at different points in 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. A famous example of 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 dazzled by the appearance of the 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. Antony, who believed himself to be the incarnation of the 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, the winter was 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 complex 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 residents.
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 Octavian's navy. 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 hand, but the 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.
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 of Greek, 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 a good education, especially in the field of 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:
Governing body: 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 the 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 this, she made her infant son Caesarion her 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 Antony 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, philosopher Blaise Pascal argued that Cleopatra's classically beautiful profile changed world history: "If Cleopatra's nose had been shorter, the whole appearance of the world would have changed." However, some historians believed that she was not beautiful and had many masculine features.
Cleopatra is the last queen of Hellenistic Egypt from the Macedonian Ptolemaic (Lagid) dynasty. She is one of the most famous queens in history.
Many books have been written about Cleopatra and many films have been made. Kings and generals fell in love with her, and were ready to give their lives for her.
In this article we will look at the features of Cleopatra, and also try to understand why she managed to gain such popularity. Indeed, when talking about women, people immediately remember two queens: and Cleopatra.
And in general, for the ancient world, Cleopatra is a fairly important and iconic figure.
So, in front of you biography of Queen Cleopatra.
Biography of Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII Philopator was born on November 2, 69 BC. e. Historians still argue about the place of his birth. According to the official version, she was born in Alexandria, which was then one of the most developed cities in the world.
An interesting fact is that Cleopatra did not have a drop of Egyptian blood, since she came from the Ptolemaic family.
The Ptolemaic dynasty, ruling Egypt in the 4th-1st centuries BC. e., was founded by one of the commanders - the Greek Ptolemy I.
Childhood and youth
It is fair to say that almost nothing is known about the childhood of the future queen. However, her biographers suggest that she was a very educated girl.
Such conclusions are made based on the fact that Cleopatra had good thinking, knew how to play musical instruments and knew 8 languages.
Moreover, during her life she was able to repeatedly conduct brilliant negotiations from a political point of view with various government and military figures. She can rightfully be called an outstanding diplomat.
Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra Obviously, while living in the city named after Alexander the Great, she repeatedly visited the famous Library of Alexandria, which housed hundreds of thousands of books.
During the biography of 58-55. BC e. Cleopatra witnessed the expulsion of her father Ptolemy 12 Auletes from the state, after which power was in the hands of her sister Berenice.
It is worth noting that Berenice was the complete opposite of Cleopatra. She loved fashion, entertainment and jewelry. Besides this, she was a rather lazy and stupid girl.
After some time, with the help of the Romans, Cleopatra's father was again elevated to the throne of Egypt. However, instead of taking charge of governing the state, he begins to take revenge on his opponents. During his reign, many repressions and political assassinations occurred.
As a result, Berenice herself became a victim of repression. Cleopatra could see with her own eyes what horrors were happening in the palace and beyond. She also understood that her father, in fact, was a puppet in the hands of the Roman authorities.
Queen Cleopatra
After the death of her father, power actually passed into the hands of Cleopatra, who was then about 17 years old. An interesting fact is that her first official husband was her brother Ptolemy XIII, who at that time was not yet 10 years old.
Bust of Cleopatra in Algeria (Berlin Antique Collection). Cleopatra wears a royal diadem and a headband Naturally, this marriage was only a formality, as the customs of the country required it. Cleopatra, being a woman, could not reign on her own.
She ascended the throne as Thea Philopator, that is, “the goddess who loves the father.”
At that time, some territories of Egypt belonged to the Roman Empire, but the state as a whole was not conquered.
The country was experiencing a financial crisis and had a lot of debt. In this regard, the first years of the reign of Queen Cleopatra turned out to be very difficult.
At that time, the people suffered from hunger due to a two-year crop failure. In addition, as Cleopatra’s husband Ptolemy 13 grew older, he began to unequivocally lay claim to power in Egypt.
His supporters were the eunuch Pothinus, who was something of a head of government, the general Achilles and his tutor Theodotus (a rhetorician from the island of Chios).
Escape to Syria
The growing king's advisers turned him against Cleopatra. The residents of Egypt were even told that she allegedly wanted to overthrow the rightful heir, Ptolemy 13, from the throne.
All this led to the fact that the queen had to flee to Syria. However, while in a foreign land, Cleopatra developed plans on how to regain power.
Around the same time, he organized a military campaign in Alexandria, directed against his longtime enemy Pompey.
However, he never managed to fight him, because having reached the banks of the Nile, Gnaeus Pompey was killed by supporters of Ptolemy 13. But Caesar did not think of leaving Egypt quickly, since he decided to collect from the government the huge debts that the Egyptians owed to Rome.
At this moment, Cleopatra realized that she urgently needed to act. She set out to win over the Roman commander at all costs and enlist his support.
According to a famous legend, the queen ordered a slave to wrap her in a carpet, which was to be presented to Caesar.
When he unrolled the carpet and saw Cleopatra inside, he was so amazed by the dazzling beauty of the queen that he immediately decided to support her in the struggle for power.
Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar In 47 BC. The Roman army defeated the Egyptians, as a result of which Caesar took possession of the entire territory of Egypt. Interestingly, Cleopatra's brother Ptolemy 13 drowned in the Nile during his flight.
Thanks to this outcome, Cleopatra again became a queen, beginning to rule together with her other brother, twelve-year-old Ptolemy 14.
Personal life
In fiction and cinema, Cleopatra is presented as a charming and luxurious girl, capable of captivating the hearts of men with one glance.
Many people associate the image of Queen Cleopatra with, who played her in the film “Cleopatra”.
Cleopatra and Caesar. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1866 However, in reality, the appearance of the Egyptian queen was not particularly beautiful, but rather, on the contrary, was unattractive. After coins and statues of Cleopatra were found, scientists were able to recreate her possible portrait.
Judging by the finds, Cleopatra had a large nose and a narrow chin. Obviously, only thanks to her intelligence and natural charm she was able to impress the stronger sex.
According to documents, the queen repeatedly tested the effects of various poisons on her slaves, and then watched as the unfortunate ones died in agony.
According to some sources, many were ready to give their lives for one night with Cleopatra. Noble men agreed to this even though the price for a night with the queen was death.
Rachel Riley as Cleopatra The next morning, Cleopatra's lovers had their heads cut off and then displayed in the palace as trophies.
There are many legends telling about the romantic relationship between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.
At the same time, the Roman commander really loved the queen, for whose sake he broke off his relationship with his mistress Servilia. Cleopatra even gave birth to a son from him, called by a double name - Ptolemy Caesar.
Queen Cleopatra in Rome
In the summer of 46 BC. e. Cleopatra arrived with her brother on a visit to Rome. Many noble Romans came to her to pay their respects, which terribly irritated the Republicans and, according to historians, accelerated the death of Caesar.
An interesting fact is that the famous philosopher and orator Cicero once wrote in one of his entries that he “hates Cleopatra.”
After Caesar was killed by the conspirators, he was succeeded by Mark Antony. He was going to accuse Cleopatra of involvement in the conspiracy, but Cleopatra resorted to cunning.
She put on the best clothes and jewelry, and thereby charmed the Roman commander. A whirlwind romance began between them, which lasted 10 years.
As a result, they had three children: twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and Ptolemy Philadelphus.
This story shows that Cleopatra's influence on men was truly incredible and almost mystical.
Death of Cleopatra
It is unknown how Queen Cleopatra died. The most common version of her death is the story told by Plutarch.
Thus, during the confrontation between Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony, the latter was falsely informed of the death of Cleopatra. Hearing the terrible news, he decided to commit suicide by throwing himself on the sword.
At this time, the queen was hiding in the tomb, where the mortally wounded Mark Antony was later taken.
Death of Cleopatra. Artist Jean-André Rixan, 1874 After his death, Cleopatra fell into depression and did not get out of bed for a long time. Later she learned that Augustus intended to put her in chains and carry her around Rome in this form.
Not wanting to endure such shame, she accepted a bite from a poisonous snake, which was secretly brought to her in a vessel with treats.
It is still unknown where the mummy of Queen Cleopatra is located. Some historians suggest that she, along with Mark Antony, could have been buried under the necropolis temple, but there are no reliable facts confirming this version.
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Among the outstanding women in the history of mankind, there is no one more majestic than the ancient Egyptian ruler and last pharaoh of Egypt - Cleopatra. Her biography, as well as the circumstances of her departure to another world, are still a stumbling block for many bright minds of the world scientific community and are discussed no less zealously than several decades ago.
Our article is dedicated to this femme fatale, from which you can learn everything about the life and death of the Queen of Egypt - Cleopatra VII Philopator.
Almost everyone who knows the history or at least the biography of Cleopatra agrees that there are no references on the pages of history to more majestic persons than this woman among representatives of the weak half of humanity. Yes, throughout the existence of mankind there have been many famous, incredibly beautiful and intelligent women. But the one to which this article is dedicated managed to outshine them all.
Cleopatra VII Philopator, whose image is reproduced by directors in popular films, and by artists and sculptors in their works of art, was not outwardly attractive during her lifetime. However, this fact did not prevent her from winning the hearts of two of the greatest men in the history of the Roman Empire:
- Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar (famous for his activities as a commander).
- Mark Antony (politician and legendary military leader).
Life path of the last pharaoh
But we’ll talk about how the relationships in this love triangle developed a little lower. Now let’s talk in more detail about who this woman with the beautiful name Cleopatra was and what her biography is.
The life story of the legendary woman began on November 2, most likely in Alexandria. Historians know nothing about Cleopatra’s childhood. It is undeniable that Cleopatra is the daughter of the aforementioned king of Ancient Egypt, Ptolemy XII, but she was not the only heir to the ruler. According to historical data, this king had at least three more daughters and two sons, about whom at least some information can be found.
Moreover, the future ruler of the country located on the banks of the Nile, Cleopatra, was the illegitimate daughter of Ptolemy XII, who (according to scientists) was given to him by one of his concubines.
The years of Cleopatra's life from the moment of her birth to her ascension to the throne remain unknown to this day. The history of her reign over the greatest country begins around 51 BC.
Proclaimed as direct heirs, Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII legally received the throne and the title "Thea Philopator" (translated from the ancient Egyptian Θέα Φιλοπάτωρ meaning "those who love their father"). At that time, Queen Cleopatra was about 18 years old, and her brother was no more than ten. However, having taken the reins of government, they were forced to enter into a formal marriage, because according to the laws of those years, women did not have the right to single-handedly lead the entire country.
Girl as head of state
Initially, Cleopatra was destined for the role of a secondary ruler, which was due to the same ban on the independent leadership of a woman over an entire state. And those who are interested in the biography of the female pharaoh are, of course, interested in such facts about Cleopatra as her ascension to the throne as an independent ruler.
But the period of her reign in those years was short-lived, and, having returned power to his own hands, Ptolemy XIII expelled Cleopatra from the palace and from the country. Then the young queen, who had a taste of power, hatched a plan for revenge and return to the throne. She gradually began to gather an army to oppose her own brother. Having learned about this, Ptolemy also gathered an army that was supposed to confront Cleopatra on the borders of the state.
Having recruited a sufficient number of people in Syria (namely, it was there that the young maiden went after her exile), Cleopatra, at the head of her army, went to the border of Egypt, where she subsequently set up a camp for further military operations.
Around the same time, Roman senator Pompey, fleeing from Julius Caesar, landed in Egypt, where he faced death at the hands of supporters of Ptolemy XII's heir, Neos Dionysus. This event became a turning point in the fate of Egypt in general and Cleopatra in particular.
Taking advantage of the opportunity and knowing about the struggle of the kings for the throne, Caesar summoned both of them. But since Ptolemy XIII was interested in the death of Cleopatra, she had to sneak into the palace undetected.
Interesting facts about Cleopatra. According to legend, she was taken to the palace of her deceased father to meet Caesar in a bed bag, which was presented to the Roman general as a gift. But, as we can see in film adaptations and paintings, to add romance to this event, artists and directors place Cleopatra in a luxurious carpet rolled up. And although in reality everything was not so, each of the versions definitely indicates that the queen had a thin physique.
The story of a Roman commander and a young Egyptian queen
A fragile young girl, who cunningly entered the palace, bribed the Roman with her charm and resourcefulness. Julius Caesar and Cleopatra began to meet secretly, which undoubtedly influenced the commander’s decision to return the young heiress to power.
So Queen Cleopatra of Egypt again ascended the throne and continued to rule Egypt together with her second brother, who became her next formal husband (we are talking about Ptolemy XIV). At the same time, Caesar had to return to Rome. Less than a year has passed since his departure when Cleopatra’s first son is born, receiving a beautiful name - Ptolemy Caesar, who was destined to go down in history under a different name - Caesarion.
Having learned about this, Caesar summons the Egyptian ruler to his place along with her formal husband and child. The fact that the greatest commander and the queen of the Egyptian state were lovers caused outrage among the inhabitants of Rome. This was the reason for the faster implementation of the conspiracy against Caesar. In connection with the death of the Roman ruler, Cleopatra returns to her possessions.
The love story of Mark Antony and the queen
The death of Gaius Julius Caesar contributed to a new wave of struggle for power in Rome. Cleopatra, being an independent and autocratic ruler on Egyptian soil, showed in this confrontation not only wisdom, but also cunning.
Despite the fact that Cleopatra did not look incomparable (which is contradicted by the images of the queen created in the same films and paintings), she managed to bribe the luxury-loving consul and conquer the triumvir with her charm.
This is how a new, official union appeared, which was definitely mutually beneficial, but not the fact that it was full of love. However, if we consider that Cleopatra and Mark Antony were married for about 10 years, this may indicate the sincerity of the feelings of both. Moreover, Cleopatra gave birth to three children from Antony.
All of Cleopatra's children (including her firstborn) were officially recognized by Mark Antony:
- Caesarion (boy born from Julius Caesar).
- Twins Alexander (Helios) and Cleopatra II (Selene).
- Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Last days of life
While Cleopatra and Anthony indulged in pleasures and led endless celebrations while in Alexandria, the territory of the Roman Empire was gradually conquered by the adopted son of Guy Julius Caesar, Octavian. Having lost almost half of his kingdom, Mark Antony set off to reconquer the lands.
But while the triumvir was fighting the Parthian invaders, Roman discontent was growing around the Egyptian queen against the backdrop of her influence on Mark Antony. And after Octavian publicly read out the consul’s will, which he inherited from the defectors, a war began between Egypt and Rome (in his dying letter, Antony recognized Cleopatra as his wife and her children as his legal heirs).
The fight against Caesar's heir was unsuccessful. In the spring of 30 BC, Alexandria was taken by Octavian. And the ruler of Egypt, in turn, tried to defeat him with her charm. Moreover, earlier Cleopatra’s beauty secrets did not let her down and she managed to win men’s hearts with their help. But not in this case.
According to one of them, the queen received a dangerous snake in a basket with figs, the poison of which she used to kill not only herself, but also two of her maids. According to another version, the snake was delivered to her chambers in a pot of figs. But the third version says that the poison was prepared by Cleopatra in advance and placed in a hollow head pin.
Therefore, how Cleopatra, a fatal and majestic woman, died, still remains a mystery to many researchers, as well as where their common tomb with Mark Antony is located. Author: Elena Suvorova
Young girls imagine “the same career, but without a tragic ending,” and from older people you can often hear “here was the right woman—beautiful, smart, determined.” However, this image is inspired more by movies than by an actual study of publicly available facts. The legend “about the incredibly beautiful and sensual queen, before whom the mightiest of this world bowed” began to take shape after death. In different eras, the legend changed “according to the demands of the time”: Cleopatra, in the minds of people, became either a fair ruler with “a number of successes on the love front”, then an example of “a smart beauty with a strong man”, then, in the end, a prudent careerist who “monetized” well » natural beauty. In our time, the idea of the Egyptian queen has crystallized into something between Disney's Little Mermaid and the Statue of Liberty: good, fair, powerful, faithful to her love and lived somewhere after Adam, but before Stalin.
As often happens, in reality everything is much more complicated and at the same time sadder. In fact, Cleopatra VII Philopator was married in turn to her two younger brothers, gave birth to four children and became the last representative of her royal dynasty. In fact, all the “pillars” on which the modern legend of Cleopatra rests turn out to be myths.
Myth 1. Egyptian
Cleopatra belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty, which is called “Greek” or “Macedonian”. The dynasty was founded by Alexander the Great's comrade and commander Ptolemy, son of Lagus. The legend even gives him a kinship with Alexander the Great himself. Whether this is true or not, after the Macedonians captured Egypt, Ptolemy was appointed satrap (ruler) of this country. He founded a dynasty, whose representatives tried to “preserve the purity of their blood,” in other words, they married their sisters. There is a theory according to which Cleopatra’s mother was a certain concubine, but in general her nationality is easy to determine - the last representative of the Ptolemies was Macedonian, or, to generalize, Greek. To her credit, it must be said that she was perhaps the only representative of the dynasty who deigned to learn the language of the submissive Egyptian people.
Myth 2. Queen-autocrat
Bust of Cleopatra VII from Cherchell in Algiers (Berlin Antique Collection). wikipedia.org
Formally, this is true, Cleopatra really was the queen of Egypt. However she had real power “periodically”, and it’s not at all possible to talk about actual rule of an independent state. Do not forget that we are talking about the ancient world, where the role of women was (at least officially) secondary. Cleopatra could not reign independently in Egypt. After her father's death, she "shared the throne" with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. Officially they were married, although in practice the “husband” was only 9 years old at the time of joining the kingdom, while Cleopatra was already 17. However, her attempt to rule independently failed - hiding behind the name of the pharaoh, the courtiers actually drove the girl out of the capital, capturing power.
The failed queen was returned to the throne by her lover Gaius Julius Caesar. Rich, but almost no longer independent Egypt was a “close client” of the warlike center of the then world - Rome. Caesar (very opportune for Cleopatra) visited Egypt in a large company, as was customary among the Romans, his friends - smiling but well-armed legionnaires. The brother and husband of the disgraced queen were overthrown, and she was placed on the throne, not forgetting to formally marry her other brother, Ptolemy XIV. Having become the illegal but actual wife of the almighty Caesar, Cleopatra really ruled Egypt, but only in the direction that was convenient for Rome. It got to the point that Caesar, who applied the rule Divide Et Impera (“divide and conquer”) to both Cleopatra and Egypt, openly summoned the “independent ruler” to come to Rome, “closer.”
The period of the queen's reign after the death of Caesar is well illustrated by one fact: the legionnaires left in Egypt, without a strong hand, robbed the local population until Rome itself took them out of the controlled country. Subsequent cohabitation with Caesar’s comrade-in-arms, the ruler of the eastern part of the Empire, Mark Antony, gave Cleopatra more power, but also only within the framework that was beneficial to the “capital of the world.” The civil war that then began between Anthony and the official heir of Caesar, who was part of the era of omnipotence, Octavian, led to disaster for both Cleopatra the Seventh herself and all of Egypt.
Myth 3. Incomparable beauty
The most fundamental and most controversial “pillar” in the creation of the cult of Cleopatra. Paintings dedicated to the queen, even during the Renaissance, depicted a Greek woman in accordance with the beauty standards of that time. If desired, you can track the change in the image in accordance with changes in these standards. The current perception was inspired rather by the imagination of filmmakers: the roles of Elizabeth Taylor and Vivien Leigh were completely candied by Monica Bellucci.
Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor and Monica Bellucci as Cleopatra. Collage AiF Unfortunately, we cannot say exactly what Cleopatra looked like. There were a couple of thousand years left before the invention of photography, so we can only discuss busts that were close in production time to the life of the character. On those of them that are identified specifically as busts of Cleopatra, she appears as a woman with a large, slightly hooked nose, a narrow forehead and a thick lower lip. However, the most objective thing in this case is to study the opinions of her contemporaries; they certainly assessed her according to the “standards” of that time. People begin to write about the Egyptian queen as a woman of incredible beauty a couple of hundred years after her death. True, the same people also write about the “unprecedented depravity” of Cleopatra. In general, most of these assessments are questioned by historians, although they are at the origins of the creation of the legend. The most authoritative is the opinion of the famous Plutarch, cited by him in his work “Comparative Lives” (in the part where he talks about Marche Antonia, the queen did not deserve an independent biography from a historian). He names Cleopatra's advantages as “the irresistible charm of her address,” the persuasiveness of her speeches and her incredibly beautiful voice. However, at the same time he mentions that “the beauty of this woman was not what is called incomparable and amazes at first sight.” At the same time, Plutarch is as close as possible to the period described and is considered a historian who rather sympathized with the last representative of the Ptolemaic family. Researchers most often agree that Cleopatra’s main advantage was, undoubtedly, her intelligence and ability to find a common language (and therefore an approach) with men.
Myth 4. Sensual and romantic
Cleopatra and Caesar. Painting by artist Jean-Leon Gerome (1866). wikipedia.org
According to legend, a carpet was brought to Caesar's chambers in which Cleopatra was hidden. The carpet was unrolled, and she supposedly suddenly appeared before the gaze of the powerful Roman, who was instantly struck by her slenderness and inexpressible beauty. Then the narrator of the legend must, apparently, become significantly silent, because “children under sixteen...”. Here you need to press stop, and then “rewind the film.” Pitying the romantic feelings of the girls, we will not dwell on the fact that they brought Cleopatra in a bedding bag. Let's focus on Caesar. By the time he met the Queen of Egypt, he was already over 50. He was an excellent commander, a very smart politician, a cunning intriguer and a decisive ruler. It’s just that his romanticism was, let’s say, special. Caesar was famous for his numerous connections, so much so that even the legionnaires he led into battle sang: “Hide your wives, we are bringing a bald libertine into the city.” Of course, the girl’s charms played a role in the fact that the Roman supported her in the fight for the Egyptian throne. However, he completely calculatedly “made” her a queen - he created a puppet ruler devoted to him personally. Apparently, it was more convenient for him to “combine business with pleasure” with twenty-one-year-old Cleopatra than with her teenage brother in the role of pharaoh. Subsequently, Caesar will order a gilded statue to be erected to his mistress, but in his will he will not mention either her or their joint child Caesarion at all.
Your next "Roman lover" Mark Antony Cleopatra conquered, of course, more powerfully. But this had to be done thoroughly and with serious preparation. Several days of feasts and receptions, demonstrating fabulous wealth to the detriment of the treasury, giving gifts, finding an approach. Antony turned out to be an “easier nut to crack” - realizing that the Roman was not stupid, but rather a brave soldier than a cunning politician, she chose the appropriate line of behavior. Rustic military humor, participation in “hooligan antics” - and here she is, a fighting friend, and with money at that. It doesn’t matter what recently she was choosing - in which direction to direct her hugs, who would be the winner in the “Roman squabble”.
The famous Italian historian Guglielmo Ferrero summed up his opinion about Cleopatra with the words "completely cold and emotionless, by nature incapable of sincere feeling".
Myth 5.Perfect wife
Jan de Brey, "The Feast of Antony and Cleopatra", 1669. wikipedia.org
Having contacted Caesar, Cleopatra started a war with her formal husband-brother Ptolemy. While fighting against the Romans and their allies, Ptolemy XIII drowned. Enjoying life with Caesar, the queen arrived in Rome - during her stay there she became the object of irritation of all the enemies, and often the allies of her lover. The cup turned out to be overflowing - a group of conspirators kills Caesar. Cleopatra returns to Egypt - her second formal husband and brother Ptolemy XIV dies. It is believed that he was poisoned, and most of all this death was beneficial (of course) to Cleopatra.
Supporting the whims of Mark Antony in everything, the queen of Egypt went to fight with him and against Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. Along the way, with her intrigues, she alienated many of his associates from Anthony. Whatever the preparation was (feasts and parties), such was the war. In the decisive naval battle off the Cape of Actium, Cleopatra took command of part of Antony's fleet - about 200 (almost half) of the largest ships equipped in Egypt. At first, these ships did not enter the battle, standing in reserve, and when Octavian’s fleet began to win, the Egyptian ships completely left the battlefield. The defeated Anthony rushed after his beloved - his tragic end was only a matter of time.
Cleopatra on the terraces of Philae. Painting by Frederick Arthur Bridgman Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Myth 6.She died so as not to live without her beloved
Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the capital of Egypt were losing hope of victory and expected Octavian's invasion. To avoid getting bored waiting, they spent all their time feasting, at the same time vowing to die together. True, when Octavian’s legions actually entered Alexandria, the oath was unfulfilled. Anthony really threw himself on the sword, but Cleopatra allowed herself to be captured and, according to most historians, tried to pull off her signature trick. She allegedly tried to seduce Octavian, the heir of her first famous lover and enemy of the second. But this battle was a losing one from the start. On the one hand, she is a mother of four children, 39 years old. On the other hand, Anthony is not a simple warrior, but a cunning, calculating and tough ruler.
Cleopatra's story ended when she realized why Octavian was keeping her alive - to see her off to a triumph. In the winner's parade, she was given the role of a trophy and a museum exhibit - along with elephants and exotic plants. The queen killed herself (and at the same time, possibly, two of her maids) with the help of poison - either a snake, or hidden in her clothes. Be that as it may, this was the end of the story of Cleopatra, the Ptolemaic dynasty and the independence of Egypt. The winners no longer wanted to play games with their mistresses and controlled queens.
"The Death of Cleopatra", painting by Reginald Arthur, 1892. wikipedia.org
P.S. Often in favor of supporting the myths about Cleopatra, the opinion “She was slandered by her victorious enemies” is heard. Of course, the enemies “corrected” their opinion about this woman, but the important thing is that we are talking about the ancient world. In the absence of the media, it was difficult to launch outright lies into the crowd of people who were direct witnesses of the events. Therefore, with an obvious discount, but still worth trusting the opinions of contemporaries of Cleopatra VI Philopator. In any case, much more than Hollywood directors.
