Cleopatra was a strong ruler and took the throne at 18 after her father died. Cleopatra ruled with her brother Ptolemy XII. She also led armies to defeat other countries.
Cleopatra is widely known for her beauty. However, recent studies have proved that she was actually unattractive. Archaeologists discovered a coin depicting Cleopatra, aging over two thousand years. The coin revealed her true appearance, showing a sharp chin and nose, and a flat mouth. The 1963 film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra, gave the false impression that she was beautiful. She then became known for her looks, and only a few people know of the truth. According to historian Joann Fletcher, many Roman women adopted the stereotypical “Cleopatra look”. Although she wasn’t attractive, she was highly intelligent. It is believed that she was a skilled politician,
Cleopatra was years ahead of her time in terms of political agenda and intellectual warfare. Cleopatra should be known as an important individual in history because of her influence in the direction of Egyptian history. She was extremely intelligent, calculating, and a master of manipulation. She used her power of sexual appeal to benefit herself and her status with society. Cleopatra had strong relations with powerful men of the era, but she still managed to surpass them with her superior intellect, and abuse their lustful obedience. Her beauty was a subject and also an inspiration for art in popular Western culture. Cleopatra’s importance in Europe should be known because she greatly impacted social development.
In the world of popular culture, Cleopatra VII is regarded as a woman with heavy eye makeup, a thing of beauty, someone with power sourced from her looks. However, the Cleopatra that history recalls is one of deadly determination and dedication, a teenager with a thirst for power, then a woman with a goal to keep Egypt out of the Roman Empire’s reach. Throughout her life as a leader, Cleopatra VII faced many difficulties, each one of which she met with an intricate strategy that showcase her deep knowledge of the politics and governance of the world around her. As she faced misogyny, bias and turmoil in both her civil and personal life, Cleopatra remained a capable and resilient leader of an imminently crumbling Egypt, and she defied all stereotypes
Cleopatra VII Philopator, known to history simply as Cleopatra, was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Immortalized in books, movies and a Shakespearian play, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator became Egypt’s most popular ancient Egyptian ruler. Cleopatra ruled Egypt for more than 300 years. She was born the third child of King Ptolemy XII in 69 BC. The meaning of her name was glory of the father. Cleopatra's two older sisters died before her father, so she became the firstborn so she could
Queen Cleopatra VII was a powerful, intelligent, and passionate woman born from royal blood of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. As a successor of Hellenistic people and Alexander the Great she was not of an Egyptian blood but born in Alexandria and speaking Egyptian language. When her father Ptolemy Auletes died, Cleopatra was in the age of eighteen. She had three sisters Cleopatra VI, Berenice IV, Arsinoe IV two of them were older than her and one younger, and two younger brothers named Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV too. Cleopatra VII and her brother Ptolemy XIII inherited the kingdom of their father as it was written his will. Because of the law in Egypt of that time Cleopatra was unable to rule by her own without the presence of a male coruler, a brother or son. As a result she ruled together with her brother who she get married to although he was only twelve years old.
Cleopatra was a noteworthy Egyptian Pharaoh whose legacy and role was shaped by her experiences and achievements in ancient Egypt. It can be argued Cleopatra was a significant figure and her role and legacy was formed by her experiences, achievements because she stood for a symbol of power and strength in a time where society was male dominated. Cleopatra’s personality and early life impacted the beginning of her rise to power and in 51 BC she became sole leader of the Egypt. The key events in Cleopatra’s reign and the role she played during the alliance between herself and Caesar impacted on her reign. External factors informed her motives, which pushed her to make decisions during her rule, as it significantly impacted her relationship with Mark Antony. Cleopatra’s legacy had short and long-term effects; the consequences of her decisions pushed her to commit suicide, the events and choices she made during her life portrayed her significance.
Furthermore, another influence that determined Cleopatra’s rule as queen stems from her lineage. As has been discovered, the Ptolemies, the family Cleopatra belonged to, were not Egyptian. Rather, they were Macedonian Greek. After Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE, his empire was divided among his generals (Harold, Anton, Duca, Henefin 28). Ptolemy Soler I claimed Egypt and thus the Ptolemaic Dynasty flourished. However, it has been noted that during the reign of the “first three Ptolemaic Pharaohs” had “Egypt prospered” (Harold, et. al 28). Thereafter, Cleopatra, daughter to Ptolemy XII Auletes and possibly Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt, inherited an Egypt in decline (Harold, et al 28). It would be up to her to restore Egypt.
Almost every pharaoh-queen was named Cleopatra, yet only one is ever thought of, Cleopatra Thea Philopator VII, “The Goddess and Beloved of her Father”. Every moment of her life from 69 BCE until August 12, 30 BCE was a story larger than life, epic in scale, and over the top in its grandeur. As the last reigning pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Ancient Egypt, she is remembered for her ability to rule as a political genius and a strong female leader living in a male-dominated world despite all odds being against her. Firstly, Cleopatra grew up in the Ptolemaic palace living a life of luxury, yet her subjects worshipped and even felt connected to her as more than just their queen. Secondly, after Cleopatra was exiled by her incompetent brother, Ptolemy XII, she came back with an army of mercenaries and took back Egypt to be its sole and more qualified ruler. Lastly, Cleopatra went to any means to secure her power and to ensure her nation’s financial and political strength; therefore what started off as a strategic alliance with Rome slowly became her dominance over most of the ancient world.
The purpose of this paper is to look at the history of Cleopatra VII, as well as how and why she wanted to be portrayed in a certain manner with respect to visual art. As the last noble of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, her images communicate her political abilities, her religious feeling, her caring duties and determination in preserving royal lineage, and her direct connection to ancient Egyptian gods. In addition, having relationships with two of the most powerful men in ancient Roman history, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Cleopatra was also able to improve her skills as a powerful pharaoh and set her status as pharaoh.
Cleopatra, once Queen of Egypt, is one of the most well-known rulers in history. She was born in October of 69 B.C. in Alexandria, Egypt, and died August 12, 30 B.C. also in Alexandria, Egypt. Her reign lasted for more than twenty years, and she killed herself at the age of 39 after Antony was defeated by Augustus. She was the last Egyptian pharaoh, and when her reign ended, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire. Cleopatra is most known by her inheritance of the throne, her effect and influence during the Roman Civil War, and her death.
The final ruler in the Macedonian dynasty, Cleopatra XII Philopator, or more widely known simply as Cleopatra, is widely agreed have been incredibly charismatic and highly intelligent. After inheriting a weakened country with an empty treasury, Cleopatra was still able to promote trading links with countries as far away as India, thus much improving the country’s economic situation. Not only was one of her main foreign policy goals was to prevent Rome’s domination of Egypt, but she was also able to help revive Egypt’s economy and contemporary Egyptian sources regarding Cleopatra’s rule (though admittedly, there are not many) also suggest the the pharaoh was incredibly popular with the Egyptian people (Hill), and in 35 B.C.E, she even took the epithet Philopatris, meaning “one who loves her country,” (Burstein xxii). However it is not her accomplishments or the love of her country that she is remembered for, but for her beauty; or rather, her rumored beauty. Today, even with so much evidence pointing to the queen having been much more average-looking, the
Along with King Tut, no other figure was as more famously associated with Egypt as Cleopatra VII. Many people believe she was an Egyptian native, but on the contrary, she was a Greek. Born originally in Alexandria, she is said to be a descendant of Ptolemy I, commonly known as one of Alexander the Great’s most trusted lieutenants. She became famous in her home city because she was one of the first to actually speak the Egyptian language, (“11 Things You May Not Know About Ancient Egypt”).
Cleopatra VII Philopator was born in 69 B.C. in Alexandria, Egypt. (“Cleopatra: The Woman…”) Her father was Ptolemy XII. Her mother was speculated to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, who was possibly her father’s half-sister. (“Cleopatra.”) She had five siblings which included two older sisters, two younger brothers, and a
Cleopatra VII was the last Pharaoh of Egypt. Cleopatra reigned over Egypt in 51BC after the death of her father Ptolemy XII Auletes. Cleopatra’s mother was Cleopatra VI and she came to power at the age of 17. Cleopatra ruled over Egypt with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy VIX and her son Ptolemy XV Caesar. She was born in 69 BC in Alexandria and ruled from 51 BC to 30 BC. Cleopatra was Macedonian, but even though her ancestry was Macedonian, she was still an Egyptian queen and worshipped as a god. She was remembered for in history as the last Queen of Egypt and her relationships to Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.