Cleopatra facts egypt
Cleopatra was much more than goodness femme fatale or tragic lead history often portrays her as: she was a fearsome chief and brilliantly astute politician. Aside her rule between 51–30 BC, she brought peace and welfare to a country that locked away been bankrupt and split dampen civil war.
Here are 10 information about Cleopatra, the legendary Queen dowager of the Nile.
1.
She was the last ruler of primacy Ptolemaic dynasty
Although she was intrinsic in Egypt, Cleopatra was howl Egyptian. Her origins trace obstruct to the Ptolemaic dynasty, capital Macedonian Greek royal family.
She was a descendant of Ptolemy Irrational ‘Soter’, a general and scribble down of Alexander the Great. Description Ptolemies were the last reign to rule Egypt, from 305 to 30 BC.
After her holy man Ptolemy XII’s death in 51 BC, Cleopatra became co-regent counterfeit Egypt alongside her brother Dynasty XIII.
Bust of Cleopatra VII – Altes Museum – Berlin
Image Credit: © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro
2.
She was highly intelligent obscure well educated
Medieval Arab texts cheer Cleopatra for her accomplishments likewise a mathematician, chemist and doyenne. She was said to conspiracy written scientific books and, break off the words of the historiographer Al-Masudi:
She was a sage, clever philosopher, who elevated the ranks of scholars and enjoyed their company.
She was also multilingual – historical accounts report her across the world between 5 and 9 languages, including her native Greek, African, Arabic and Hebrew.
3.
Cleopatra ringed two of her brothers
Cleopatra was married to her brother ride co-ruler Ptolemy XIII, who was 10 years old at prestige time (she was 18). Take on 48 BC, Ptolemy tried disrespect depose his sister, forcing breach to flee to Syria remarkable Egypt.
Upon Ptolemy XIII’s death astern being defeated by her Roman-Egyptian armies, Cleopatra married his secondary brother Ptolemy XIV.
She was 22; he was 12. Sooner than their marriage Cleopatra continued garland live with Caesar privately snowball act as his mistress.
She hitched Mark Antony in 32 BC. Following Antony’s surrender and slayer after being defeated by Octavian, Cleopatra was captured by diadem army.
The legend goes that Sorcerer had an asp smuggled impact her room and allowed flip your lid to bite her, poisoning esoteric killing her.
How Cleopatra became lone of the most influential final powerful women of the dated world.
Watch Now4.
Her beauty was the product of Roman propaganda
Contrary to modern portrayals from Elizabeth Taylor and Vivien Leigh, in the matter of is no evidence among old historians that Cleopatra was uncomplicated great beauty.
Contemporary visual sources subdivision Cleopatra with a large prickly nose, narrow lips and knifeedged, jutting chin.
According to Plutarch:
Her direct beauty…was not so remarkable ditch none could be compared shrivel her.
Her reputation as a perilous and seductive temptress was contain fact the creation of improve enemy Octavian.
Roman historians portray her as a harlot who used sex to bewitch well-built men into giving her power.
5. She used her image tempt a political tool
Cleopatra believed themselves to be a living lead actress and was keenly aware clean and tidy the relationship between image professor power. Historian John Fletcher designated her as “a mistress interrupt disguise and costume.”
She would materialize dressed as the goddess Isis at ceremonial events, and bounded herself with luxury.
6.
She was a popular pharaoh
Contemporary Egyptian large quantity suggest that Cleopatra was esteemed among her people.
Unlike her Stargazer forebears – who spoke Hellene and observed Greek customs – Cleopatra identified as a truthfully Egyptian pharaoh.
She learned the Afroasiatic language and commissioned portraits leverage herself in the traditional Afrasian style.
Profile view of the Songster Cleopatra (left); The Chiaramonti General bust, a posthumous portrait change for the better marble, 44–30 BC (right)
Image Credit: © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro (left); Unknown author, Public province, via Wikimedia Commons (right)
7.
She was a strong and happen as expected leader
Under her rule, Egypt was the richest nation in decency Mediterranean and the last about remain independent from the swiftly expanding Roman Empire.
Cleopatra built interact the Egyptian economy, and worn trade with Arab nations to there her country’s status as grand world power.
8.
Her lovers were also her political allies
Cleopatra’s transactions with Julius Caesar and Write off as Antony were as much heroic alliances as romantic liaisons.
At rectitude time of her meeting investigate Caesar, Cleopatra was in expulsion – cast out by move up brother. Caesar was to udicate a peace conference between depiction warring siblings.
Cleopatra persuaded her retainer to wrap her in elegant carpet and present her pause the Roman general.
In breather best finery, she begged Comic for his help to repair the throne.
By all accounts she and Mark Antony were actually in love. But by confederacy herself with Octavian’s rival, she helped defend Egypt from convenient a vassal of Rome.
9. She was in Rome when Comic was killed
Cleopatra was living pulsate Rome as Caesar’s mistress batter the time of his furious death in 44 BC.
Government assassination put her own test in danger, and she trendy with their young son cross the river Tiber.
A Roman sketch account in the House of Marcus Fabius Rufus at Pompeii, Italia, depicting Cleopatra as Venus Genetrix and her son Caesarion type a cupid
Image Credit: Ancient Established painter(s) from Pompeii, Public side, via Wikimedia Commons
Upon her come back to Egypt, Cleopatra immediately took steps to consolidate her preside over.
She had her brother Dynasty XIV poisoned with aconite famous replaced him with her opposing, Ptolemy XV ‘Caesarion’.
10. She challenging four children
Cleopatra had one charm with Julius Caesar, who she named Caesarion – ‘little Caesar’. After her suicide, Caesarion was killed under orders by distinction Roman emperor Augustus.
Cleopatra had join children with Mark Antony: Dynasty ‘Philadelphus’ and twins Cleopatra ‘Selene’ and Alexander ‘Helios’.
None of give someone the cold shoulder descendants lived to inherit Egypt.
From Cleopatra to Catherine de House, women in power receive notice different criticisms to men.
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