Cleopatra's Influence

Where It Began

                 

Alexander the Great was a king from the region of Greece called Macedonia. He is one of the most notable rulers in all of history. He conquered and liberated Egypt in 332 BCE after he was welcomed into Egypt because the Egyptian people were tired of being controlled by the Persians. Alexander the Great later conquered the entire Persian Empire, which lasted from 559 to 320 BCE. However, his demise came in Babylon in 323 BCE when he was killed. After his death, the empire was split up into regions and they were divided amongst his generals. One of them being Ptolemy, Cleopatra VII’s great-great grandfather. Ptolemy was given control of Egypt[1]. Cleopatra’s father, Ptolemy XII Auletes ruled came to rule Egypt in 76 BCE shortly after he married his siter and Cleopatra’s mother, Cleopatra V. Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BCE to Ptolemy XII Auletes and Cleopatra V in Alexandria, Egypt. Cleopatra means “father loving-goddess”[2]. Cleopatra had five siblings: Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, Arsinoe IV, Berenice IV, Ptolemy XIV, and Cleopatra Tryphaena[3].

 

How It All Started

 

                  Cleopatra came into power in 51 BCE alongside her brother, Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, after their father’s death the same year. They were crowned in a ritualistic ceremony at the Ptah of Memphis. Pharaohs are crowned as the God and Goddesses of Egypt. Cleopatra represented the goddess Isis and was referred to as such throughout her reign. Shortly after becoming Queen, Cleopatra was exiled from her kingdom by her brother. She fled to Thebes, waiting for the day she could return to Alexandria. She eventually did return to Alexandria, and had her brother killed and therefore, she began her reign as sole ruler of Egypt[4].

 

Her Education

 

Cleopatra VII was incredibly intelligent. She spoke several languages including Greek, Egyptian, and she knew the languages of the Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Ethiopian’s, etc. She also had access to the ancient world’s greatest place for knowledge about anything and everything. She was able to be educated and studied at the Library of Alexandria. The Library of Alexandria located in Alexandria, Egypt, housed thousands of texts from ancient civilizations from all of the world. Anyone who studied at the library was able to have access to texts hundreds of years old and in multiple different languages. The Library of Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great. Unfortunately, the Library of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, caught fire and burned down. Julius Caesar of the Roman Empire was trying to capture Pompey, a statemen from the Senate, who opposed Caesar, he was stopped by a large Egyptian fleet and then he ordered that Cleopatra’s boats be burned. The boats caught fire which spread to the city and eventually the library itself[5].

 

Her Reign as Queen:

Cleopatra ruled from 51 BCE to 30 BCE. During her rule she did much for her country and her people loved her dearly. Including lessen the threat of the Roman Empire trying to capture Egypt. She was able to prevent capture of her country by beginning an alliance and eventual relationship with Julius Caesar, who at the time was the most beloved “leader” of the roman empire. During her relationship with Caesar, her country flourished. She eventually had a boy with Caesar, named Caesarion, who was born in 47 BCE. Because Caesar was not present at the birth of Caesarion in Alexandria, Egypt, they went to visit him in Rome. Cleopatra hoped that while in Rome, Caesar would name Caesarion as his heir to the empire because Julius had recently named himself “dictator for life”[6]. However, tragedy struck when members of the Senate killed Caesar for trying to take over the empire. Cleopatra was heartbroken but had to return to Egypt in order to protect herself, Caesarion, and her country. After Caesar’s death, Marc Antony, one of Caesar’s most trusted generals, came to Cleopatra in hope that she would help him gain entire control of the Roman Empire and wanted to end sharing ruling the Empire with Octavian. Cleopatra agreed and also began an intimate relationship in which she got pregnant again, but this time with twins. The twins were named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene.[7] After the twins were born, Cleopatra and Marc Antony fought at the Battle of Actium in Actium Greece, it was a naval battle that was fought against Octavian. Cleopatra and Marc Antony were horribly defeated, and Cleopatra fled the battle in order to salvage the last of her naval fleet[8].

 

The Fall and Death of a Queen:

 

                  Cleopatra and Marc Antony then began into many years of warfare against Octavian; however, Octavian was gaining high ground quickly and had now brought the battles to Egypt. During the final battle, Marc Antony’s forces were wiped out and Cleopatra’s army was starting to grow weary. Cleopatra had to send her kids away with their handmaids to keep them out of danger. Unfortunately for them, on the last day of their life’s Marc Antony met with Cleopatra in a tomb where he was killed. Cleopatra was captured and held hostage. Octavian had hoped to bring Cleopatra back to Rome to show her off as a trophy of his victory. To show her off, he would’ve have paraded her through the streets and then executed after. To escape this horrible fate, it is believed she was given some kind of poison that would kill her before Octavian could bring her back to room. There is a myth that she was bitten by an Asp, a Cobra like snake, that was extremely venomous however it has been proven to be highly unlikely. It is thought that she took the poison with her handmaids and that they died together holding hands[9].

[1] “Achaemenian Dynasty | Definition, Achievements, & Facts | Britannica,” March 27, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Achaemenian-dynasty.

[2] “Ptolemy XII Auletes | Macedonian Pharaoh, Last of the Ptolemies | Britannica,” April 3, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-XII-Auletes.

[3] Stanley Mayer Burstein, The Reign of Cleopatra (University of Oklahoma Press, 2007).

[4] “Watch Queen Cleopatra | Netflix Official Site,” accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.netflix.com/title/81230204.

[5] “Library of Alexandria | Description, Facts, & Destruction | Britannica,” March 7, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Library-of-Alexandria.

[6] “Watch Queen Cleopatra | Netflix Official Site.”

[7] “Watch Queen Cleopatra | Netflix Official Site.”

[8] “Watch Queen Cleopatra | Netflix Official Site.”

[9] “Watch Queen Cleopatra | Netflix Official Site.”