Cleopatra: The Egyptian Queen
A look into one of Antiquity's most fascinating women.
Nothing stimulates the imagination of modern classicists more than Queen Cleopatra, the exotic pharaoh of Egypt. She is one of the best-known women in human history. The caramel-skinned Egyptian goddess was a gorgeous sight to behold. She had curly hair, a hooked nose, and a jutting chin. In ancient art, the Egyptian queen was often depicted with her characteristic protruding nose and chin. Beauty was hardly her only selling point; she was intelligent, cunning, and wealthy. “The contact with her presence, if we lived with her, was irresistible,” wrote the Greek historian Plutarch. Cleopatra won the affections of Rome’s two greatest generals in her lifetime: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In ancient times, she was literally revered as a goddess, identified with the Egyptian Isis and the Greek Aphrodite. Today, she is afforded almost similarly high attention and praise.
A Queen is Born
Cleopatra was born in 69 BC in the learned city of Alexandria. The city, founded by Alexander the Great himself, was home to the famous Library of Alexandria, one of Antiquity’s brightest centers of learning. The enlightened woman received a first-rate education at her palace, where she studied philosophy and rhetoric. From an early age, she learned the art of oratory. By heart, she knew all the right postures, gestures, and spoke with a soft, womanly voice. She was able to speak at least seven languages, which contributed to her political acumen. She was one of the first in her family to speak the Egyptian language without the aid of translators.
Her city was situated strategically in the Nile Delta. She belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, which ruled for three centuries. The dynasty had been formed in the aftermath of Alexander’s conquests. Alexander’s empire was inherited by his generals. Among them was Ptolemy, an ancestor of Cleopatra. Cleopatra VII was the seventh ruler in her lineage to rule by that name. Marriages and murders were commonplace in the family. In Alexandria, the Ptolemies ruled from an ornate, decorative palace, complete with over 100 rooms. The royal landscape was adorned with a beautiful assortment of gardens, statues, and foundations.
Upon the death of her father, the 17-year-old Cleopatra assumed the throne of Egypt. According to tradition, she married her brother, the 13-year-old Ptolemy XIII. The two siblings struggled for dominance over Egypt, and a civil war appeared imminent. The clever Cleopatra attempted to navigate the crisis by strengthening her ties with Rome. The Egyptian queen ingratiated herself to the Roman general Pompey, who led one of Rome’s most traditionalist families. Her diplomatic maneuvers led to accusations of treason by her brother. At the age of 21, the young queen was forcibly exiled into Syria, where she amassed an army.
Pompey and Caesar
Much to King Ptolemy’s shock, Pompey was en route to Egypt, where the Roman general expected to find Queen Cleopatra. Pompey was a mighty general, who made conquests in Africa, Asia, and Europe. After suffering disastrous defeats by Caesar in Greece, Pompey fled to Egypt. The Egyptians were afraid of publicly allying with Pompey, fearing the wrath of Julius Caesar. King Ptolemy also feared that Pompey would conspire to re-install Cleopatra to Egypt’s throne.
Because of this, the partisans of Ptolemy orchestrated a plot against Pompey. When Pompey arrived on Egyptian soil, he expected a warm reception. Little did he knew, he had fallen into a trap. The Roman general was brutally beheaded. A few days later, Caesar arrived. When shown the head of Pompey, Caesar recoiled in horror. Although he was enemies with Pompey, Julius still respected his adversary. On Caesar’s orders, Ptolemy’s advisers were executed. The Roman dictator marched on Egypt’s palace, demanding to see the king and queen. This provided a perfect opportunity for Cleopatra to reclaim her throne. Cleopatra hatched a perfect scheme. With help from a Sicilian supplier named Apollodorus, the queen secretly sailed along the Nile River for eight days. Upon arriving at Alexandria, the seductive Egyptian goddess was rolled up in a carpet and smuggled into the palace. Caesar was immediately smitten by the beautiful woman.
The alliance was opportune for Cleopatra, who sought Caesar’s assistance in exacting revenge against her brother Ptolemy. The queen convinced Caesar that she was the rightful ruler of Egypt. The two became a passionate, amorous couple, and their lustful liaison continue to color the modern imagination. Caesar’s support of Cleopatra outraged Ptolemy, who waged war on the couple. The Roman general, at a numerical disadvantage, fled to a defensive position. This became known as the Siege of Alexandria. Caesar managed to overcome Ptolemy’s forces at the Battle of the Nile, where the young pharaoh drowned in the river.
After vanquishing her brother, Caesar and Cleopatra had a lovechild together, named Caesarion. With Caesar’s support, Cleopatra managed to consolidate her control over Egypt. Under her administration, the city of Alexandria boomed. She organized an expedition to Rome, and stayed at Caesar’s mansion. Caesar’s relationship with a foreign woman was frowned upon by Rome’s senators. Rumors spread about the couple. Caesar was at the height of his powers, and had himself declared dictator for life. An angry Senate orchestrated Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC.
Mark Antony and Octavian
Caesar’s right-hand man, Mark Antony, chased after the conspirators. Because Caesarion was left out of Julius’ will, the Egyptian queen was forced to flee Rome. In 41 BC, Antony sent a messager to Alexandria, calling for a meeting in the city of Tarsus. The queen arrived in a dazzling boat, with a golden stern, silver oars, and purple sails. The Roman general fell in love with the seductive Egyptian monarch. Antony spent time with his Egyptian paramour in Alexandria. Even after leaving the Egyptian city, the two lovebirds continued to exchange letters. A year later, in 40 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to twins, which Mark Antony recognized as his heirs.
Meanwhile, back in Rome, politics continued to be dominated by strongmen. A new alliance, known as the Second Triumvirate, emerged between Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus. When Lepidus withdrew from public life, conflict sparked between the two remaining triumvirs. Octavian ruled the western provinces, while Antony controlled the east. The two men began a cataclysmic clash over control of Rome’s government. Cleopatra reunited with Antony at Antioch, where their union was made official. Their exciting romance thrived in the seductive atmosphere of Alexandria. The couple hosted many parties and banquets, where they displayed their grandiosity and opulence. When the Parthians attacked Syria and Asia Minor, Antony was forced to leave Cleopatra.
Relations frayed between Antony and Octavian, renewing Rome’s civil war. At the naval battle of Actium, in 31 BC, Cleopatra accompanied her husband. Although Antony suffered a crushing defeat, the Egyptian queen returned to her homeland, where she falsely announced victory. Although Cleopatra tried to maintain her position and conquer her allies, the true eventually came out. Octavian, the clear victor, offered clemency to Cleopatra. He urged her to kill her husband, but she refused. When Octavian marched triumphantly into Alexandria, the game was over. Antony committed suicide by the sword, dying in his lover’s arms. Her children were killed soon after. A despondent Cleopatra committed suicide, either by poison or snakebite.
Legacy
Cleopatra’s story is one of exoticism, romance, sexuality, power, and conquest. Was she a corrupt, lavish monarch who rubbed soldiers with tyrants like Caesar and Mark Antony? Was she a powerful woman who, through her feminine sexuality and elegance, managed to secure her place in the male-dominated annals of human history? Was she an enlightened despot, or a collaborator in the degeneration of Rome’s Republic? The Egyptian ruler fascinated the ancient people in her own day, and continues to enchant modern times with her timeless seduction and prowess.