Cleopatra

Cleopatra is a name that was given to many Queens who ruled in Egypt. The most famous of these women was Cleopatra VII. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII, King of Egypt. Cleopatra VII lived from 69-30 B.C. and reigned as queen of Egypt from 51-30 B.C. (Stanly). Cleopatra is said to be far from beautiful, her picture on ancient coins made her look like she had a long hooked nose and masculine features. She is also said to be very seductive with her enchanting musical voice and exuded charisma. She was also very intelligent and a great ruler. She spoke nine different languages. She was the only Eqyptian Queen who could actually speak Egyptian (History).

The Ptolemy family had ruled Egypt since 305 B.C. After the death of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy I declared himself King of Egypt.

The Ptolemy family was of Macedonian descent, part Greek and part Iranian. Cleopatra’s father Ptolemy XII, full name was Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Auletes (which means flute-player in Greek), he began ruling in 80 B.C. and continued to rule until his death in 51 B.C. (Nardo). Cleopatra’s mother is said to have been Cleopatra V Tryphaena, who either died or disappeared in 69 B.C. Cleopatra had two older sisters; Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV, and one younger sister, Arsinoe IV. She also had two younger brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, both of whom she had to marry (Nardo).

In 58 B.C. Berenice IV took over the kingdom forcing her father, Ptolemy XII, to flee to Rome. She ruled Egypt until he regained the throne in 55 B.C. and he had her beheaded (History). Cleopatra’s other sister disappeared sometime between 58-55 B.C. Ptolemy XII named Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII as heirs to the throne, and when he died they took over (Nardo). A rule established by Ptolemy II stated that you had to marry your sibling if ruling a country together. So Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII married, but strictly as a rule.

Cleopatra VII was eighteen and Ptolemy was only ten when they were named King and Queen of Egypt in 51 B.C. (History). For the most part Cleopatra did most of the ruling. Ptolemy was very naïve to with his advisors. They would tell him what to do. Finally, three years after Cleopatra had ruled they advised him to take total control of the kingdom. He went with his advisors and Cleopatra was forced in exile. Cleopatra fled to Syria where she began to construct an army for her rev...

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... from him by Rome. Octavian declared war on Antony and Cleopatra in 32 B.C. (Arab). It soon became clear to her that her dreams of power could not come true with him at her side (Cleopatra). Cleopatra then locked herself in her room with two servants and word got to Antony that she was supposedly dead; Antony tried to kill himself, he fell on his sword but did not die. “As he laid suffering, a messenger came to him bearing the heartbreaking truth; The first message had been false. Cleopatra was alive, barricaded in her tomb” (Stanly). When Antony was brought into Cleopatra he died in her arms (History). After Antonys death Cleopatra too, killed herself by a snakebite. She died on August 12. 30 B.C., at the age of 39 (History). Octavian put Caesarion to death ending the family’s long rule of Egypt. Egypt then became part of the Roman Empire (Cleapatra).

Cleopatra is the definition of feminine power. She can very well be one of the first notable women in history. She was a very powerful woman; she knew what she wanted very early in life. Cleopatra life storey is not how powerful she became for a woman in her time, but what she did for love; the love of Egypt and the love of a man.