Top 10 Facts about Cleopatra

Top 10 Facts about Cleopatra

By Louis le Grand wikimedia

Cleopatra is famously known from her relationships with the autocratic leader Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.

Cleopatra is also considered as a symbol of beauty and female power. She was the last pharaoh to rule Ancient Egypt.

She was born in 70 or 69 B.C. to Pharaoh Ptolemy XII, a descendant of Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. Her mother was believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, the king’s half-sister and wife.

Her family had ruled Egypt for over 300 years. Let’s look at some 10 facts about Cleopatra

1. She was mentored by her father

Cleopatra was born a princess. She was her father’s favorite child and would always accompany him on his duties as a pharaoh.

She learned some leadership skills from her father and that helped her during her reign. Cleopatra was also considered to be intelligent and witty.

Such attributes enabled her to draw the attentions of emperors like Julius Caesar and  Mark Anthony.

2. Cleopatra rolled up in a carpet to meet Julius Caesar

Photo by Lida Sahafzadeh on Unsplash

Cleopatra was a go-getter; she never let anything come between her ambitions.

One such occasion was when Julius Caesar visited Egypt in 48 B.C. At that time, Cleopatra had had a falling out with her brother Ptolemy XIII.

Cleopatra had to think of a plan to secretly meet with the Roman ruler without her brother knowing.

She took up on the least suspecting trick; she rolled up in a carpet and got smuggled into Caesar’s quarters’ in Alexandria where he was staying.

Cleopatra and Caesar soon after not only formed a political alliance but a romantic one too, that bore them a son.

3. She plotted the murder of her siblings for power

Cleopatra loved to be in power and did all she could to retain it. It was quite common in those times for siblings to turn on each other for power. Cleopatra was not different

She was sent on exile by her brother and husband Ptolemy XIII, after her failed attempt to take over the throne. The two were involved in a civil war.

Having formed an alliance with Caesar who had a mighty army, Cleopatra won  the war. Ptolemy drowned in the Nile River after being defeated in battle.

In 41 B.C., she plotted the murder of her sister, Arsinoe a possible rival to the throne.

She later had her brother murdered so that her Son, Caesarian, could take over the throne after her.

4. Cleopatra was not Egyptian

Although Cleopatra is famously known as the queen of Egypt, she was of Greek descent. Her family lineage is linked to the Greek ruler Alexander the Great.

Growing up, Cleopatra learned to speak, read, and write in Greek. She is said to have been able to speak seven other languages among them Latin and Egyptian.

5. Incest was a common practice amongst the Pharaohs

The Pharaohs did not marry outside of family. It was a common practice for siblings to get married to each other.

Cleopatra’s parents, Pharaoh Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V Tryphaena, were half siblings.

After her father’s death, Cleopatra married her brother Ptolemy XIII who drowned in battle.

She then got married to her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, whom she murdered on return from Rome to make way for her son on the throne.

6. Cleopatra an expert in Foreign Policy

Cleopatra believed in joining forces with parties she saw potential gain in especially for her kingdom Egypt.

She went the whole nine yards in ensuring that Egypt remained independent of the Roman Empire.

She traded with Arabic nations and India. She was successful in boosting Egypt’s economy to a world power status.

When it came to protecting her reign, she joined forces with the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar in the battle field and had terrific wins.

After Caesar’s assassination, Cleopatra got married to Mark Anthony an influential Roman general. This union was beneficial to Egypt as a kingdom.

7. Cleopatra’s fashion and making entrance

When Cleopatra made an entrance, there was no doubt everyone would pay attention.

In 41 B.C, she sailed off to meet with the Roman General Mark Anthony in Tarsus.

She arrived at a golden boat decorated with purple sails and rowed by oars made of silver. There were musicians on the boat to entertain her.

Cleopatra dressed up like the goddess Aphrodite, sat under an elegant-looking canopy and was being attended to by ladies dressed up as cupids.

They fanned her and burned sweet-smelling incense. Mark Antony could not resist such charming elegance.

To keep her skin soft, she was known for bathing in milk and honey.

8. Cleopatra lived in Rome

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

After Caesar returned from war, Cleopatra together with her toddler son went to join him in Rome.

Her stay in one of Caesar’s palace was not well-received by the Romans mostly be because she was Egyptian.

It rubbed the Romans the wrong way when Caesar erected a gold statue of her in the temple of Venus Genetrix.

She was forced to flee after Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C.

9. She Ruled alongside her son Caesarion

After she murdered her brother, Cleopatra appointed Caesarion as her co-ruler at the age of three.

They did not last long in power as there was much opposition from Octavion, her adopted son, who claimed to be the rightful heir.

At 16 years old, Caesarion was officially sole ruler of Egypt. He ruled while on Exile since Octavion had a prize for his head.

10. Tragic Ending for Cleopatra, Anthony and Caesarion

Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Cleopatra and Anthony fought against Octavion in the Battle of Actium at the coast of Greece. They suffered a terrible loss to Octavion.

Cleopatra fled to Egypt on her ship with Anthony following closely. Before he could catch up with her, Anthony heard that Cleopatra was dead.  He fell on his sword and died, news was false.

On learning of what had befallen her husband, Cleopatra became sad. Soon after burying her husband, Cleopatra locked herself in her room, and was found dead. The cause of her death is believed to be through poisoning or a fatal snake bite.