Cleopatra VII Philopator (ancient Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ, 69 - 30 BC) - the last queen of Hellenistic Egypt from the Macedonian Ptolemaic (Lagid) dynasty.
Cleopatra came from a noble Ptolemaic family. Ptolemy I Soter was one of the closest associates of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy asked the commander for Egyptian lands as a reward. When the Macedonian died, Soter embalmed his body and moved to Alexandria, a city named after the conqueror himself. It was here that the famous library was founded. It collected many works of various scientists, poets and philosophers. Their works have reached us. So Cleopatra used this treasury of knowledge from a young age. She became a very educated woman for her time. Cleopatra had deep knowledge, a subtle mind, and a strong will. The woman was charming and could find mutual language with the people.
Young Cleopatra gained power at the age of 16. She married her brother, who was barely 13. The boy was weak in both mind and health. Despite her inexperience, the girl understood well that power is incredibly life-threatening, and every mistake in the field means death! The young queen was ambitious, but her husband’s teacher, Pothin, also wanted power. Cleopatra had a problem on the horizon. The fact is that Pothin was a eunuch, which means the young queen will not be able to use her charm and charm for her own purposes. Then Cleopatra decided to turn to mighty Rome for help. She devotes all her strength to seducing high-ranking Romans. While Cleopatra was approaching the son of the then emperor, Pompey, a coup occurred in Rome, and Gaius Julius Caesar came to power. Pothinus took advantage of Cleopatra's unfortunate mistake. He spread a rumor that the queen had betrayed Egypt and that the Romans would soon invade the country. Cleopatra fled to Syria. The situation worsened day by day. The queen's defender, Pompey, lost. The Battle of Pharsalus decided the issue of power in Rome. Caesar's supremacy was established. Pompey fled to Egypt. He hoped to find salvation, but ended up falling into the hands of Potinu. He, of course, with a smile from ear to ear, carried the head of the son of the former king to Caesar, who entered Egypt.
Guy Julius Caesar planned to intervene in the feud between his wife and husband, and the formal reason for his visit to Egypt was a financial debt. The cunning Pothinus did not convey the invitation to Cleopatra. If not for her self-confidence and intuition, she would not have returned to Egypt. There she pretended to be a commoner. Soon, exactly what Pothinus feared happened - Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra. The next morning, the Romans, using the right of the strong, ordered Ptolemy to make peace with his sister and share power with her. At that moment, the remnants of the brain awakened in the feeble-minded prince. He rushed towards the palace, shouting about treason and betrayal, calling everyone to arms. Thanks to Caesar's composure, everything worked out. Power returned to Cleopatra, and Pothinus died due to an unsuccessful plot against Caesar. Ptolemy XIII also died soon after. Cleopatra married Ptolemy XIV. This essentially didn't change anything. Egypt still lay at the queen's feet. A couple of months later, Cleopatra gave birth to a son and named him Ptolemy-Caesarion. Now the queen could demand more than Egypt. She had an influential lover and a child with him. Cleopatra arrives in Rome, where she is greeted with all honors.
March 15, 44 BC Caesar was killed in the Senate. Cleopatra was not at a loss. She had to run again and again calculate moves in a complex political party. A war broke out in Rome and lasted two years. Caesar's supporters and opponents demanded help from Cleopatra. The Egyptian woman maneuvered between two warring parties and could not take anyone’s side. Soon her husband died again in Egypt. There were rumors that she was the one who killed him. It wasn't like that though. The king himself drank the poison. All the queen’s hopes turned to Caesarion. Cleopatra was now playing not only for herself. The war in Rome ended, and victory was with the Caesarines. Mark Antony came to power in the Asian provinces. Cleopatra regained her confidence. Anthony arrived in Egypt, where Cleopatra was already waiting for him. Soon the queen and her son had unlimited and undivided power over Egypt. Caesarion became the recognized heir, and Cleopatra began a luxurious and full of pleasures life. Mark Antony and Cleopatra are two names that are forever linked with each other.
The lovers were destroyed by self-confidence. They reacted sluggishly to the threat from Rome. Octavian prepared very thoroughly for war. Cleopatra thought that victories in war were as easy as on the personal front. She foolishly takes command of a unit navy. Alas and ah, but at the most crucial moment, in the Battle of Akitsuma, it was Cleopatra who failed Antony. At the last moment her nerves gave way. She ran away from the battlefield on her ship. Mark, mad with love, rushed after her. It is easy to guess that their fleet was destroyed. The ending of this story is tragic. At first, Cleopatra tried to maintain power. She gathered something like a “people's militia”. At the same time, Cleopatra is preparing the way for retreat. Secretly, she hopes to seduce her enemies. However, none of these plans came to fruition. All of Anthony's ships were burned by the Arabs in the Red Sea. By the way, Cleopatra transferred them there. Mark no longer wants to see the queen. In desperation, Cleopatra tries to buy her life by betraying Antony. However, Octavian no longer needs this. He captured Egypt and the power in it and the children of the Egyptian harlot. The new ruler mentioned his plans - to shackle Cleopatra in gold chains and lead her through Rome - “Woe to the vanquished!” Cleopatra was completely frightened and chose to leave with dignity. She dressed in her best clothes and took a basket of fruit. A snake was sleeping at the bottom. Cleopatra woke her up with a prick of a needle. A painless bite followed. Death. Cleopatra was buried next to Anthony. Octaivan ordered to remove all the statues of Mark, but not to touch the statues of Cleopatra. The queen's son was executed as a contender for power. This is how the tragic story about the life of the great Egyptian woman ended, but her image still lives in poems, stories, films...
Cleopatra is the last queen of Hellenistic Egypt from the Macedonian Ptolemaic (Lagid) dynasty. She is one of the most famous queens in history.
Many books have been written about Cleopatra and many films have been made. Kings and generals fell in love with her, and were ready to give their lives for her.
In this article we will look at the features of Cleopatra, and also try to understand why she managed to gain such popularity. Indeed, when speaking about the women of Egypt, people immediately remember two queens: and Cleopatra.
And in general, for ancient world Cleopatra is a fairly important and iconic figure.
So, in front of you biography of Queen Cleopatra.
Biography of Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII Philopator was born on November 2, 69 BC. e. Historians still argue about the place of his birth. According to the official version, she was born in Alexandria, which was then one of the most developed cities in the world.
An interesting fact is that Cleopatra did not have a drop of Egyptian blood, since she came from the Ptolemaic family.
The Ptolemaic dynasty, ruling Egypt in the 4th-1st centuries BC. e., was founded by one of the commanders - the Greek Ptolemy I.
Childhood and youth
It is fair to say that almost nothing is known about the childhood of the future queen. However, her biographers suggest that she was a very educated girl.
Such conclusions are drawn based on the fact that Cleopatra possessed good thinking, knew how to play musical instruments and knew 8 languages.
Moreover, during her life she was able to repeatedly conduct brilliant negotiations from a political point of view with various government and military figures. She can rightfully be called an outstanding diplomat.
Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra Obviously, while living in the city named after Alexander the Great, she repeatedly visited the famous Library of Alexandria, which housed hundreds of thousands of books.
During the biography of 58-55. BC e. Cleopatra witnessed the expulsion of her father Ptolemy 12 Auletes from the state, after which power was in the hands of her sister Berenice.
It is worth noting that Berenice was the complete opposite of Cleopatra. She loved fashion, entertainment and jewelry. Besides this, she was a rather lazy and stupid girl.
After some time, with the help of the Romans, Cleopatra's father was again elevated to the throne of Egypt. However, instead of taking charge of governing the state, he begins to take revenge on his opponents. During his reign, many repressions and political assassinations occurred.
As a result, Berenice herself became a victim of repression. Cleopatra could see with her own eyes what horrors were happening in the palace and beyond. She also understood that her father, in fact, was a puppet in the hands of the Roman authorities.
Queen Cleopatra
After the death of her father, power actually passed into the hands of Cleopatra, who was then about 17 years old. An interesting fact is that her first official husband was her brother Ptolemy XIII, who at that time was not yet 10 years old.
Bust of Cleopatra in Algeria (Berlin Antique Collection). Cleopatra wears a royal diadem and a headband Naturally, this marriage was only a formality, as the customs of the country required it. Cleopatra, being a woman, could not reign on her own.
She ascended the throne as Thea Philopator, that is, “the goddess who loves the father.”
At that time, some territories of Egypt belonged to the Roman Empire, but the state as a whole was not conquered.
The country was experiencing a financial crisis and had a lot of debt. In this regard, the first years of the reign of Queen Cleopatra turned out to be very difficult.
At that time, the people suffered from hunger due to a two-year crop failure. In addition, as Cleopatra’s husband Ptolemy 13 grew older, he began to unequivocally lay claim to power in Egypt.
His supporters were the eunuch Pothinus, who was something of a head of government, the general Achilles and his tutor Theodotus (a rhetorician from the island of Chios).
Escape to Syria
The growing king's advisers turned him against Cleopatra. The residents of Egypt were even told that she allegedly wanted to overthrow the rightful heir, Ptolemy 13, from the throne.
All this led to the fact that the queen had to flee to Syria. However, while in a foreign land, Cleopatra developed plans on how to regain power.
Around the same time, the Roman commander Gaius Julius Caesar organized a military campaign in Alexandria, directed against his longtime enemy Pompey.
However, he never managed to fight him, because having reached the banks of the Nile, Gnaeus Pompey was killed by supporters of Ptolemy 13. But Caesar did not think of leaving Egypt quickly, since he decided to collect from the government the huge debts that the Egyptians owed to Rome.
At this moment, Cleopatra realized that she urgently needed to act. She set out to win over the Roman commander at all costs and enlist his support.
According to a famous legend, the queen ordered a slave to wrap her in a carpet, which was to be presented to Caesar.
When he unrolled the carpet and saw Cleopatra inside, he was so amazed by the dazzling beauty of the queen that he immediately decided to support her in the struggle for power.
Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar In 47 BC. The Roman army defeated the Egyptians, as a result of which Caesar took possession of the entire territory of Egypt. Interestingly, Cleopatra's brother Ptolemy 13 drowned in the Nile during his flight.
Thanks to this outcome, Cleopatra again became a queen, beginning to rule together with her other brother, twelve-year-old Ptolemy 14.
Personal life
IN fiction and in cinema, Cleopatra is presented as a charming and luxurious girl, capable of captivating the hearts of men with one glance.
Many people associate the image of Queen Cleopatra with, who played her in the film “Cleopatra”.
Cleopatra and Caesar. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1866 However, in reality, the appearance of the Egyptian queen was not particularly beautiful, but rather, on the contrary, was unattractive. After coins and statues of Cleopatra were found, scientists were able to recreate her possible portrait.
Judging by the finds, Cleopatra had a big nose and a narrow chin. Obviously, only thanks to her intelligence and natural charm she was able to impress the stronger sex.
According to documents, the queen repeatedly tested the effects of various poisons on her slaves, and then watched as the unfortunate ones died in agony.
According to some sources, many were ready to give their lives for one night with Cleopatra. Noble men agreed to this even though the price for a night with the queen was death.
Rachel Riley as Cleopatra The next morning, Cleopatra's lovers had their heads cut off and then displayed in the palace as trophies.
There are many legends telling about romantic relationships between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.
At the same time, the Roman commander really loved the queen, for whose sake he broke off his relationship with his mistress Servilia. Cleopatra even gave birth to a son from him, called by a double name - Ptolemy Caesar.
Queen Cleopatra in Rome
In the summer of 46 BC. e. Cleopatra arrived with her brother on a visit to Rome. Many noble Romans came to her to pay their respects, which terribly irritated the Republicans and, according to historians, accelerated the death of Caesar.
An interesting fact is that the famous philosopher and orator Cicero once wrote in one of his entries that he “hates Cleopatra.”
After Caesar was killed by the conspirators, he was succeeded by Mark Antony. He was going to accuse Cleopatra of involvement in the conspiracy, but Cleopatra resorted to cunning.
She put on the best clothes and jewelry, and thereby charmed the Roman commander. A whirlwind romance began between them, which lasted 10 years.
As a result, they had three children: twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and Ptolemy Philadelphus.
This story shows that Cleopatra's influence on men was truly incredible and almost mystical.
Death of Cleopatra
It is unknown how Queen Cleopatra died. The most common version of her death is the story told by Plutarch.
Thus, during the confrontation between Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony, the latter was falsely informed of the death of Cleopatra. Hearing the terrible news, he decided to commit suicide by throwing himself on the sword.
At this time, the queen was hiding in the tomb, where the mortally wounded Mark Antony was later taken.
Death of Cleopatra. Artist Jean-André Rixan, 1874 After his death, Cleopatra fell into depression and did not get out of bed for a long time. Later she learned that Augustus intended to put her in chains and carry her around Rome in this form.
Not wanting to endure such shame, she accepted a bite from a poisonous snake, which was secretly brought to her in a vessel with treats.
It is still unknown where the mummy of Queen Cleopatra is located. Some historians suggest that she, along with Mark Antony, could have been buried under the necropolis temple, but there are no reliable facts confirming this version.
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Cleopatra VII (69–30 BC) is one of the most famous women in world history. Nobody called her beautiful. On the contrary, they say that she was completely unattractive in appearance, overweight and very short in stature. However, the Egyptian queen had an extraordinary mind, insight, gravitated towards science and was fluent in several foreign languages. All this, as well as her fabulous love of love, made Cleopatra desirable to many men. “Inimitable,” that’s what the queen called herself, and she was right: in those days there was no woman more worthy, more educated and wiser than her in any way.
After the death of the Egyptian king Ptolemy XII in the spring of 51 BC. His ten-year-old son Dionysus, who became Ptolemy XIII, and his eighteen-year-old daughter Cleopatra ascended the throne. Before this, according to Egyptian law, the brother and sister entered into marriage.
The young queen was disliked. It is believed that Cleopatra was too selfish and independent. Moreover, smart and versatile, she gravitated towards European culture, which is why she was quite bored in Egypt. Three years later, the de facto head of the country, the eunuch Pothinus, wished that the young Ptolemy would become the sole ruler of the state and, having persuaded other royal dignitaries, expelled Cleopatra to Syria. There the girl had to spend long months until she got the opportunity to return to her homeland.
At that time, the powerful Roman conqueror Julius Caesar (100–44 BC) arrived in Egypt and demanded that the young rulers repay the huge debts that their father had left behind after his death. Neither Ptolemy XIII nor Cleopatra were going to repay their debts, and a cunning idea immediately appeared in the girl’s head. That same evening, dressed in the most beautiful outfits, she ordered the servants to wrap her in a carpet and bring her as a gift to Caesar. In the evening, the queen presented herself to the Roman commander, and the next morning she celebrated the victory. The Roman fell in love with young Cleopatra and promised not only to forgive her debts, but also to force her brother to reconcile with his sister.
The war lasted eight months before Julius Caesar returned the throne to his mistress. During the war, the young king drowned while trying to escape from Egypt while fleeing Caesar's troops. From that time on, Cleopatra became the sole ruler of the state.
In gratitude, the queen arranged for her lover a magnificent trip along the Nile. The lovers sailed on a huge ship for two months, accompanied by four hundred other ships, until they returned back to Alexandria.
The time has come for Caesar to continue his conquests. He was preparing to capture Dacia and Parthia and, expanding eastern borders The Roman Empire, to create a huge state all the way to India. Caesar intended to become the head of this gigantic empire, and chose the incomparable Cleopatra as his wife.
Caesar went to war, but the queen remained in her homeland, since she had been expecting a child for several months. For more than a year, the all-powerful commander fought with his enemies and finally became the absolute master of the Roman state. Now his warriors were preparing for a campaign to the east, and he called his mistress to Rome with his little son, whom Cleopatra named in honor of Julius - Ptolemy Caesarion.
Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt arrived in Rome accompanied by a whole cortege of golden chariots, thousands of slaves who led entire herds of tame gazelles and cheetahs. The Egyptian ruler herself sat on a sparkling golden throne, which was carried by tall, muscular Nubian slaves. She wore a dress embroidered with precious stones, and a sacred golden snake was wrapped around her head. For a long time the Romans could not recover from such dazzling luxury of the Egyptian queen.
Satisfied, Caesar settled the guest in a huge villa on the banks of the Tiber. The Egyptian woman spent more than a year there. Contrary to all the beliefs of the townspeople, Cleopatra did not interfere in the affairs of her lover. She spent all her time with her son and Caesar, almost never left the residence and only enjoyed her stay in Europe.
However, the hatred of the Romans for the foreigner grew. They said that she so attached Caesar to her that he supposedly seriously decided to become a pharaoh and move the capital of the Roman Empire to Alexandria. Rumors spread, the dictator did not deny them, for which he paid with his own life. Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC. close associates during a Senate meeting.
Caesar left no direct heirs. When his will was opened, they discovered that he had appointed his nephew Octavian as his successor, and not a word was said in the paper about his son Ptolemy Caesarion. The frightened Egyptian queen packed up in one night and sailed to her homeland.
Egypt was in turmoil, and in order to somehow save the country from the advancing Roman troops, Cleopatra entered into a love affair with another Roman commander, Mark Antony, who competed with Octavian for dominion over the Roman state. Simple and rude, but passionate and susceptible to female charms, the handsome man Anthony fell madly in love with a charming Egyptian woman and, forgetting about his legal wife, spent all his time with his new mistress. Anthony's wife fell ill with grief and died suddenly. The widower wished to enter into a new marriage with the Egyptian queen. Octavian was against it. He proposed his own sister as Antony's wife - the smart, educated and kind Octavia. Mark Antony soberly assessed his political interest and agreed. However, immediately after the wedding, the commander sailed to Syria, where the brilliant Cleopatra was at that time. She did not like the fact that her lover connected his life with another. To console his beloved, Anthony in 37 BC. married her, effectively becoming a bigamist.
As a wedding gift, Anthony presented his beloved with Cyprus, Phenicia and Cilicia. In 34 BC. Cleopatra was given the title Queen of Kings. She gave birth to a son and daughter from Anthony.
Three years passed, and Octavian decided to end the dual power in the country. He went to war against Anthony. The enemy's fleet and army were defeated, and Anthony himself committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Cleopatra was captured by Octavian and awaited the decision of her fate in the palace. Those close to her informed the queen that Octavian intended to arrange a triumph for himself in Rome and lead her in chains throughout the city.
The Egyptian ruler could not bear such shame and humiliation. She secretly made her way into her tomb, built several years ago, and ordered a servant to bring poisonous snake and wrapped it around her neck. A few hours later, Octavian received a message from Cleopatra. In it, the last queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty asked to be buried next to her last husband, Mark Antony, not far from the royal palace.
No one doubts the dazzling beauty of the Egyptian queen. However, contemporary sources say nothing about this, and a later author writes that she looked "not incomparable". Face femme fatale can be imagined from her official images.
It wasn't the irresistible sexuality that shocked me in some way. She was a mistress the great commander and dictator Julius Caesar, after whose assassination she took over his comrade-in-arms Mark Antony. Together they tried to resist Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus, but were defeated and committed suicide. The story of Cleopatra's life and suicide has inspired many writers, artists, and filmmakers. The most brilliant Hollywood stars starred in her role - Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor. However, ancient portraits of Cleopatra suggest that with rumors about her unearthly beauty somewhat exaggerated.
More about the “Pearl of the Nile”
Almost all images of the queen look embellished, symbolic, deliberately distorted, or do not turn out to be portraits of her at all. However, scientists are taking a closer look at them again and again. In the end, this is the only “material evidence” available to them; descriptions of eyewitnesses have not been preserved. The most reliable source is the work of the Greek historian Plutarch (c. 45 - c. 127). who knew the grandson of one of Cleopatra’s courtiers:
"They say, outer beauty she was not at all incomparable... however, she talked with irresistible charm. On the one hand, her appearance combined with seductive speech, and on the other, her character, inexplicably manifested in all her actions... in highest degree conquered those around them. Her voice sounded tender.”
Deceptive Appearances
On coins minted in Alexandria (see right), Cleopatra has a hooked nose and a protruding chin. However, these parts of the face in official portraits were often enlarged to make the image more strong-willed and powerful.
In any case, Cleopatra was unlikely to answer modern standards beauty. Judging by the mummies, women from the Ptolemaic dynasty were about 1.5 m tall and by no means thin. Coins and busts of Cleopatra show fat deposits around the neck- the statues call them “Venus rings”. Perhaps the artists emphasized with them the well-fed life of their models, but, according to a number of experts, in in this case This is not pure symbolism. It seems that the queen's neck was a bit thick. In some images, a long, humped nose and a sharp, protruding chin are striking.
Cleopatra was actually killed by an asp - the name of the real asp is known as the Egyptian cobra or gaya (up to 2 m long), depicted on the crown of the Egyptian queen: the bite is not very painful, death is quick.
Deity
The relief on the Temple of Hathor at Dendera (see left) depicts Cleopatra wearing a goddess headdress with cow horns. Obviously, identifying herself with the Egyptian goddess, the queen tried to strengthen her authority among her subjects. She could also appear to Europeans in the image of the Roman Venus.
Queen of Diplomacy
Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BC. Its Ptolemaic dynasty, nominally ruling, had long been dependent on the Roman Republic. What the monarchs lacked in strength they made up for in outward splendor. Cleopatra herself received an excellent education and, by all accounts, was already very early age behaved like a king.
Without diplomatic skills it was difficult to survive. In 17 years She inherited the throne - along with her 12-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII, traditionally declared her husband - and immediately faced the discontent of her subjects, the intrigues of the court parties and the threat of direct Roman annexation (occupation) of Egypt.
In 48 BC. at the Battle of Pharsalus (Greece), Caesar defeated Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius the Great). He fled to Egypt, where he was killed by the Ptolemaic courtiers, who feared the revenge of the winner. Soon Gaius Julius Caesar himself appeared here. Cleopatra had previously been expelled from Alexandria by her brother's supporters. Great commander after a difficult and dangerous war with them in 47 BC. restored the victim to the throne. Returning to Alexandria, for effect or simply fearing for her life, Cleopatra ordered herself to be secretly delivered to Caesar's camp in a linen bag.
Describing this episode, Plutarch ( ancient Greek philosopher, biographer, moralist) does not say that Caesar was struck by the queen’s beauty, but “he was immediately captivated by her coquetry”.
Seductress...
Cleopatra's reputation as a femme fatale developed in ancient Rome after her death, when the queen's name became a prestigious brand for cosmetics and beauty salons. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that she bewitched Mark Antony with a witchcraft potion. Shakespeare, using the works of Plutarch and Suetonius, tried his best to discern the queen in her. In our time image of Cleopatra was vividly embodied, in particular, in the film by Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor.
Of course, rolling out of the carpet at Caesar's feet, she looks - by the standards of moviegoers - extremely sexy. However, Cleopatra really was hiding from her enemies, and in the Roman commander she saw the only guarantor of security. In the end, the question is still who seduced whom.
Let's compare the chances: she has 22 years behind her and a fictitious marriage with her younger brother; he is 53, he has a wife, a bunch of mistresses and a long experience of carnal pleasures.
Such a description hardly corresponds to the romantic version of a seasoned warrior who rushed to the notes 22-year-old naughty girl a whole kingdom. They became lovers, and soon she came to him in Rome. Certainly, Caesar defeated Cleopatra's enemies and again made her the ruler of ancient Egypt, primarily for political reasons!. The historian Suetonius Tranquillus believes that the Roman dictator chose to leave her on the throne because at that time Time of Troubles the governors of the provinces appointed from Rome were trusted even less.
Caesar was not amorous. All Roman authors, including Suetonius, call him an inveterate philanderer: he had connections with noble Roman women, as well as queens of dependent kingdoms. Suetonius adds that Cleopatra charmed the dictator with her shamelessness, however, while she lived in Rome (46-44 BC), he did not dare to make her either his wife or even his official favorite. Caesar understood: for conservative fellow citizens this would be too exotic.
But still Cleopatra gave he had what the Roman wives could not give him - a son named Caesarion. According to Suetonius, the dictator dreamed of an heir and even considered a law that would allow him to circumvent existing rules. Some historians believe that if Caesar had married Cleopatra, their son would have ruled Rome in his time.
However, here she miscalculated. Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC. conspirators, and his will, written a few months before his death, bitterly disappointed queen of Egypt. The dictator appointed his adopted grandnephew Octavian as his successor and heir. Caesar did not dare to break the law that prohibited foreigners from inheriting Roman citizens. Octavian became head of state (later the first Roman Emperor Augustus), and Cleopatra returned to Alexandria.
On this ring (see right) 50-30 years. BC. Cleopatra in Egyptian regalia. Her nose and chin stand out less here than in other images. Perhaps this portrait is closer to reality?
Exit to Antonia
Three years later, Cleopatra got together with another influential Roman- Mark Antony, commander and co-ruler of Octavian. It is generally accepted that she seduced him purely political goals. Authors from the Augustan era write that she pushed Antony around, who refused her nothing. “Whatever Cleopatra commanded, everything was carried out, regardless of human and divine laws,” historian Appian.
Royal face...
Cleopatra's Egyptian outfit was richly decorated. The maids lined the queen's eyes, painted her nails, palms and feet with henna, and her lips with special plant extracts. The hair was hidden by a traditional Egyptian wig. On Egyptian statues, Cleopatra is distinguished from previous queens by the “triple uraeus”, i.e. images of three cobras on the crown at once. These sculptural portraits do not convey any resemblance to the original - they correspond to the traditional image of a ruler from the Ptolemaic dynasty. Although, perhaps, a short neck and large ears - distinctive features Cleopatra herself.
This relationship began in 41 BC, when the queen was already 28 years old. Cleopatra came to Antony in Tarsus (in the south of present-day Turkey) to justify herself, since she did not support the army of the triumvirs (Antony, Octavian, Lepidus), which was actually commanded by Antony, before the Battle of Philippi (42 BC), where The triumvirs defeated the Republican troops led by Brutus and Cassius, the murderers of Julius Caesar (who committed suicide after the battle).
Cleopatra arrived with great pomp. Plutarch writes about it this way:
“She sailed up the Cydnus on a bark with a gilded stern with a purple sail spread out, and silver oars struck the water in time with the playing of flutes, pipes and harps. They reclined under a gold-embroidered canopy dressed as Venus.” Anthony received, in boxing parlance, a blow “below the belt” and, apparently, was “knocked out.” They became lovers, and Cleopatra became pregnant again.
Anthony's visit to Egypt followed, which lasted for a year. He attended games and performances and enjoyed the honor that Alexandrian society bestowed upon him.
Presence of a Roman general greatly strengthened Cleopatra’s political position: obviously, she tried with all her might to keep her influential lover nearby. However, in 40 BC. Antony returned to Rome, where his wife Fulvia and brother Lucius, through their actions (rebellion in Etruria), almost led to a break with Octavian. A reconciliation took place, and as a sign of eternal friendship, Antony married Octavian's widowed sister, Octavia (Fulvia had died by this time), to the horror of Cleopatra, who had just given birth to twins - Alexandra - Helios and Cleopatra-Selene.
Appian describes this collision as follows. At first, Anthony, like a boy, lost his head” from Cleopatra. Having enjoyed her company in Alexandria, he now wintered in the same way in Athens with Octavia.
“He dined according to Greek custom and... attended festivities in the company of Octavia, which gave him great pleasure. He also fell madly in love with her, because he was generally greedy for women.”
Ugly girl...
This bust is from the Depseig collection considered to be a true portrait of Cleopatra. The hairstyle and tiara are the same as in her official portraits.
The similarity is especially great with the bust of Cleopatra, discovered in 1933 by L. Curtius in the Vatican. True, his nose was broken off, which was preserved here. Its tip is curved down, the nostrils are slightly flared. The careful elaboration of these details means that they are individual. In general, the features of the first face are softer than in other portraits, but perhaps their smoothness is explained by relatively recent chemical treatment.
Chasing two birds with one stone
Anthony's family happiness did not last long. In 37 BC he returned to Cleopatra. Isn't this proof of her irresistible charms? Apparently not. The queen was already well over 30. Busts and coins of that time show her strict hairstyle and stern face.
Cleopatra's long, hooked nose immediately catches the eye - not at all like Elizabeth Taylor's. However, the Roman Mark Antony served for a long time in the east of the Mediterranean - apparently, this one, who had already become by the 1st century BC. He considered the usual type of female face there (very different from the northern Caucasians with “classical” features that were still prevalent in Italy and Greece at that time) attractive.
However, it is unlikely that he was returned to Egypt only love. Antony's relations with his rival Octavian were never friendly and were increasingly deteriorating. Probably both understood that they were becoming cramped in the same country. Having abandoned his wife and brother-in-law in Rome, Anthony decided to gain a foothold in Egypt. Cleopatra's fleet was one of the strongest in the Eastern Mediterranean - this factor could be more significant than female charms.
Anthony married Cleopatra(a marriage invalid from the point of view of Roman law) and announced that he was giving her and her children Libya, Syria, Cilicia, Armenia and the not yet conquered Parthia.
In Rome it is bigamy caused legitimate outrage. The divorce from Octavia, the official marriage to Cleopatra, as well as the announcement (at the initiative of Octavian) of the will, in which Antony asked to be buried in Alexandria, completely undermined his former popularity. Orators denounced Antony as a rebel who had betrayed the Roman cause; there were rumors in Italy (fanned by Octavian) that Cleopatra dreams of dominion over the whole world and vows to “make laws on the Capitol.” We can say that by the time more decisive measures were taken, Octavian had already won the propaganda war.
...or Macedonian matron
This is a possible image Cleopatra (see left) was discovered on the Greek island of Dilos. Susan Walker, deputy curator of the British Museum's Department of Greco-Roman Antiquities, believes that the hairstyle and shape of the nose coincide with other portraits of the queen. The fat folds on the neck are clearly visible - the so-called “Venus rings”. Coins minted at Ascalon (Ashkelon) depict the 18-year-old Cleopatra with similar features, so the Dilos bust may well represent her.
The end of Cleopatra
In 32 BC. Octavian declared war, and specifically to Cleopatra, since Antony, who was in alliance with her, remained a Roman citizen and retained the remnants of popularity. It was important to place the blame on the “witches and harlots” from Egypt.
In 31 BC. the combined fleet of Antony (170 heavy ships) and Cleopatra (60 ships) was defeated by Octavian's fleet(260 light ships) off the Cape of Actium in Epirus (Greece), in 30 BC. the remnants of their troops went over to the enemy's side, and the couple committed suicide. Octavian in 27 BC, took the title of Augustus and ruled - already as emperor - until his death at the age of 14. It was under him that the myth of Cleopatra arose - a dissolute but seductive intriguer who confused and bewitched the addicted Anthony. Over the centuries, this story became more and more romantic, and its heroine turned into a fairy-tale beauty. In whose true face - on darkened coins and damaged statues - no one was interested anymore.
Cleopatra already during her lifetime became the heroine of legends; her tragic death further strengthened the tendency to romanticize the image - so that the romantic halo created by ancient Roman authors and the enthusiasm of modern filmmakers prevents an objective look at the queen - undoubtedly the most famous of all women of antiquity...
short biography
Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last queen of Hellenistic Egypt from the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty. She is the last Egyptian pharaoh. Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt for 22 years successively in co-government with her brothers (who are traditionally formal husbands) Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, then in actual marriage with the Roman commander Mark Antony.
She was the last independent ruler of Egypt before the Roman conquest and is often, although not entirely correctly, considered the last pharaoh Ancient Egypt. She gained wide fame thanks to her love affair with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She had a son by Caesar and two sons and a daughter by Antony.
Cleopatra's love affairs
If it didn't exist, it would have to be invented. Her life inspired first painters and poets, then playwrights and filmmakers.
People like to present her relationship with Caesar and Mark Antony as a classic love triangle: some authors believe that she adored Caesar, others, no less authoritative minds, are sure that the only true love of her life is Mark Antony.
Appearance and character of Cleopatra
Contrary to popular belief, the last Egyptian queen was not at all pretty. On ancient coins we see her image - a long nose, masculine features faces. But the gods endowed Cleopatra with a charming voice and charisma.
In addition, she was a well-educated woman. And let the spiteful critics shut up - Cleopatra VII was the first pharaoh from the Ptolemaic dynasty who could speak Egyptian. In addition, she knew 8 more languages. It was no secret to anyone that Ptolemy XIII was only called pharaoh, but Cleopatra ruled the country.
Cleopatra grew up in the outstanding center of that time - Alexandria. Poetry, arts, and sciences found shelter in this city, and at the courts of the Egyptian kings there were quite a few outstanding poets and artists. The girl received an excellent education and spoke several languages fluently, studied philosophy, was well acquainted with literature and played various instruments.
She was educated, intelligent, and inherited a political mind from her ancestors. But at the same time, she had a voluptuous nature. To satisfy her desires, Cleopatra kept many handsome men. In those days it was not at all considered immoral.
Evidence from a contemporary has been preserved, who writes that Cleopatra appointed death at the price of her love and that there were admirers who were not frightened by such a condition. For the night spent with the queen, the madmen paid with their lives, and their heads were exhibited in front of the temptress's palace!
Pharaoh's daughter
She was born in 69 BC. Her parents are Pharaoh Ptolemy XII Auletes and Cleopatra V, Ptolemy's sister and wife (a common practice for representatives of the ruling dynasties of Egypt at that time). In addition to little Cleopatra, the family had two older sisters - Cleopatra VI and Berenice, a younger sister - Arsinoe, and two younger brothers - the Ptolemies.
The last Egyptian pharaohs were not Egyptians: Ptolemy I was a general in the army of Alexander the Great. After the death of the great commander, he became king of Egypt. If you are unlucky and were not born the eldest child in royal family, then your chances of taking the throne are extremely small. In 58 BC, the people of Alexandria rebelled against the tyrant Auletes and overthrew him. The elder sister Berenice ascended the throne.
Berenice marries her cousin, but very soon, on her orders, the unfortunate husband will be strangled so that the queen can connect her life with someone else. Berenice has been in power for three years. During her reign from unknown illness Cleopatra VI, the next contender to the throne, dies.
In 55, Ptolemy XII regained the throne with the support of the Roman general Pompey. Berenice and her husband are beheaded. Now Cleopatra VII becomes the eldest child.
If you are in power, you should have been prepared for the fact that they would try to take this power away from you. The first attempt to overthrow the queen was made... by her own husband, three years after the wedding. 15-year-old Ptolemy XIII was not an independent figure, but behind him stood the ambitious mentor Pofinus...
In 48, an uprising began in Alexandria, Cleopatra fled Syria along with younger sister Arsinoea.
Cleopatra and Caesar
But Cleopatra was not one to give up easily. Very soon she moved the army to the Egyptian border... Brother and sister, husband and wife were going to sort things out on the battlefield.
At the same time, there was also a fight for power in the Roman Empire: between Julius Caesar and Pompey. After losing the battle of Pharsalos, Pompey fled to Alexandria, hoping to receive political asylum there. But in power is not the same Ptolemy, whom the Roman general once helped return to the throne, but his weak-willed offspring.
The advisers believe that it is unwise to quarrel with Caesar, so Pompey is killed right in front of the pharaoh. Three days later, Julius Caesar, who arrived in Alexandria, was presented with a kind of “gift” from Ptolemy XIII - the head of Pompey. The advisers miscalculated - before the struggle for power began, Pompey was a friend of Caesar, so the “gift” horrified the Emperor. Caesar ordered a cessation of hostilities and ordered his brother and sister to come to the palace for clarification.
Cleopatra understood perfectly well that as soon as she appeared in Alexandria, her brother’s henchmen would immediately kill her. The queen comes up with a brilliant move - she, wrapped in a carpet, is secretly brought to the palace as a gift to the great Caesar. The carpet is unrolled... Caesar falls under her charm. That same night they become lovers.
The next day, Ptolemy discovered that his older sister had outwitted him. He tries to storm the palace, but Caesar orders his arrest. Have you forgotten about Pofinus yet? Led by him and (look at this) Cleopatra's younger sister Arsinoe, the Egyptian army begins an offensive.
The Alexandrian War lasted six months, until its ideological inspirer Pofinus fell in one of the battles, and Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile while trying to escape.
Alexandria swore allegiance to Caesar, Arsinoe was arrested, the throne returned to Cleopatra, who marries... the only surviving brother of Ptolemy XIV (12 years old).
After the victory, Caesar and Cleopatra set off on a two-month journey along the Nile. It was during this period that Cleopatra became pregnant and in due course gave birth to a son, who was named Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Caesar recognized the boy as his son.
From now on, three Roman legions are stationed in Alexandria to protect the queen. A year later, Cleopatra comes to Rome with her son and husband to celebrate the end of the war. Prisoners are driven through the Roman streets, including Arsinoe. Caesar spared her life, but a little later Mark Antony would kill Arsinoe at the request of her older sister Cleopatra.
For two years, Cleopatra and her son lived near Rome. Her royal lover idolizes her: a golden statue of the Queen of Egypt is placed in the temple of Venus; Caesar even tries to change the law in order to marry Cleopatra and make Caesarion his only heir... Alas, Caesar had a legal wife, Calpurina, a woman whom few people remembered then and remember now.
On March 15, 44 BC, the famous meeting of the Senate will take place, during which a group of conspirators kills Caesar.
Cleopatra immediately leaves Rome and heads back to Egypt. Soon after her arrival, Ptolemy XIV dies, poisoned by order of the queen - no one should stand between power and her son, Caesarion.
Arrival in Rome
Cleopatra and Mark Antony
After Caesar's death, power was divided between Caesar's nephew Octavian, Marcus Lepidus and Mark Antony.
In 42, Mark Antony orders Cleopatra to appear in Tarsus to find out if she supports his enemies. The Queen arrives on a barge, dressed as Venus, surrounded by maids dressed as sea nymphs and cupid boys. She unmistakably determines weak spots Mark Antony and skillfully plays along with him. Cleopatra is not embarrassed by the fact that her new lover is somewhat uncouth and loves crude soldier humor.
Mark Antony is enchanted, he drops everything and goes with the queen to Alexandria. Orgies and dubious entertainment continue throughout the winter. Cleopatra does not leave him unattended either day or night. With great difficulty, the Roman manages to escape from this round dance of pleasures and return home.
6 months after his departure, Cleopatra gave birth to twins - Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. She will see their father again only after 4 years. By that time, Mark Antony would marry Octavian's half-sister Octavia, and in this marriage he would have two daughters, both of whom would be named Antonia.
In 37, Mark Antony begins another military campaign. But very soon he finds himself in the arms of Cleopatra, who in 36 becomes his wife. Another heir is born - Ptolemy Philadelphiaus.
Unexpectedly, Octavia’s wife goes to visit her husband who has been on a spree. A letter from Anthony is waiting for her in Athens, in which he informs her that she does not need to go further, he himself will come to Athens. Having learned about this, Cleopatra uses all her feminine tricks to prevent Mark Antony from meeting his first (legal) wife. She succeeds - Mark Antony cancels the trip, Octavia returns to Rome without seeing her husband.
The Romans are outraged by this attitude of Mark Antony towards his legal wife. The last straw was the proclamation of Alexander Helios as the king of Armenia, Cleopatra Selene as the queen of Crete, and Ptolemy Philadelphiaus as the king of Syria. Caesarion was declared the "king of kings" and Cleopatra the "queen of kings".
Outraged, Octavian declares war on Egypt. In a fatal battle near Actium (Greece), Cleopatra, deciding that Mark Antony is losing, hastily leaves the battlefield and actually “surrenders” her lover.
For three days Anthony refuses to see her or talk to her. The lovers return to Egypt, where they are overtaken by the news that the troops of Mark Antony are surrounded and defeated. It's time to prepare for death. Cleopatra experiments with various poisons to find out which one brings quick and painless relief.
In the year 30, Octavian's army was on the outskirts of Alexandria. Mark Antony's army swears allegiance to Octavian - after the Battle of Actium, no one doubts that Mark Antony has lost his head over a woman and is unable to think for himself.
Cleopatra orders the servants to announce to Antony that she has died. In desperation, he stabs himself with a dagger. Still alive, Mark crawls to Cleopatra’s mausoleum. The queen is afraid to open the door, so the mortally wounded Mark Antony is forced to climb through the window using the ropes dropped by Cleopatra. He dies on her bed.
Death of the Great Queen
When Octavian's soldiers surrounded the mausoleum, Cleopatra refused to open the door and attempted suicide. But she was disarmed and taken prisoner.
After Anthony's funeral, she tried several times to take her own life - the alerted guards stopped all attempts. To deceive the vigilance of the future emperor, the proud queen fell at the feet of Octavian, begging for her life. Surprisingly, the insightful ruler of Rome believed in the sincerity of the suffering woman.
The queen had no illusions about her future - like her sister Arsinoe, she had to walk in chains through the streets of Rome. The only thing she asked Octavian was that the Egyptian throne remain with her children.
Cleopatra managed to avoid shame: the servants devoted to the queen gave her a basket of fig fruits. The guards examined the basket and found nothing suspicious in it.
After dinner, Cleopatra wrote a letter in which she asked Octavian to bury her next to Mark Antony. Alarmed, Octavian sent guards in case she attempted suicide again. But it was too late - the poison of the small snake kills almost instantly; when the guards arrived at Cleopatra’s chambers, the queen was dead.
Cleopatra VII was the last pharaoh; after her death, Egypt became one of the Roman provinces.
Her son Caesarion, by order of Octavian, was strangled by a teacher, her daughter Cleopatra Selene married the King of Mauritania, nothing is known about the fate of Alexander Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphiaus.
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