History of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt , and Cleopatra retired to her mausoleum as Antony went off to fight his last battle. Receiving the false news that Cleopatra had died, Antony fell on his sword. Cleopatra buried Antony and then committed suicide. The means of her death is uncertain, though Classical writers came to believe that she had killed herself by means of an asp , symbol of divine royalty.

They were buried together, as both of them had wished, and with them was buried the Roman Republic. But Cleopatra had lived in a highly literate age, and her actions had influenced the formation of the Roman Empire ; her story could not be forgotten. Octavian the future emperor Augustus was determined that Roman history should be recorded in a way that confirmed his right to rule.

As Cleopatra had played a key role in his struggle to power, her story was preserved as an integral part of his. But it was diminished to just two episodes: Cleopatra, stripped of any political validity, was to be remembered as an immoral foreign woman who tempted upright Roman men. As such, she became a useful enemy for Octavian, who preferred to be remembered for fighting against foreigners rather than against his fellow Romans.

This official Roman version of a predatory, immoral Cleopatra passed into Western culture , where it was retold and reinterpreted as the years passed, until it evolved into a story of a wicked life made good by an honourable death. Meanwhile, Muslim scholars, writing after the Arab conquest of Egypt about ce , developed their own version of the queen. Their Cleopatra was first and foremost a scholar and a scientist, a gifted philosopher and a chemist.

Life and reign

His was by no means the first revision of Cleopatra, nor was it to be the last, but his is the Cleopatra that has lingered longest in the public imagination. From Shakespeare stems a wealth of Cleopatra-themed art—plays, poetry, paintings, and operas. We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval.

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Learn More in these related Britannica articles: In Africa the Pompeian forces and their native allies were not defeated until Caesar himself moved against them and annihilated them at Thapsus. In the realism of power politics she had to conquer Rome: The surviving portraits show that…. Both sides asked for Egyptian support, and after some stalling Cleopatra sent four Roman legions stationed in Egypt by Caesar to support the triumvirate.

According to the story recorded by Plutarch and later dramatized famously by William Shakespeare , Cleopatra sailed to Tarsus in an elaborate ship, dressed in the robes of Isis. Antony, who associated himself with the Greek deity Dionysus, was seduced by her charms. Cleopatra returned to Egypt, followed shortly thereafter by Antony, who left behind his third wife, Fulvia, and their children in Rome. He spent the winter of B.

Antony again met with Cleopatra to obtain funds for his long-delayed military campaign against the kingdom of Parthia. They again became lovers, and Cleopatra gave birth to another son, Ptolemy Philadelphos, in 36 B. In a public celebration in 34 B. In late 32 B. On September 2, 31 B. He fell on his sword, and died just as news arrived that the rumor had been false. On August 12, 30 B. The means of her death is uncertain, but Plutarch and other writers advanced the theory that she used a poisonous snake known as the asp, a symbol of divine royalty.

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. The Roman politician and general Mark Antony 83—30 B. What ultimately made Cleopatra attractive were her wit, charm and "sweetness in the tones of her voice and the amount of knowledge to make herself agreeable to everyone.

She ruled the Empire a few years. She fall in love with Marcus Antonius Marci he was a leader, politician and Roman consul who was born in Rome and died in Alexandria whom his romantic relationship cost him prestige in Rome. On the piled, falling cushions of her seat With violet eyelids moving not she rests; The collars of thick gold heaved by her breasts Betray her silent, languorous fever-heat. A rose farewell floats on the pyramids, Eve droops a shadow from his velvet lids; And while afar the crocodiles are weeping, Clenching her fingers, sighing into the air, She shakes to feel lascivious and creeping Hands, which in the wind exhaust her hair.

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Best book ever I chose this because I love egyptian mythology and this is the best book ever love it this is the best book ever. Recommending for anyone looking for some background on Cleo. Jul 11, Lata Setty rated it liked it. I would have recommended the name of the book "History of Egypt and Greece" than "History of Cleopatra" as very less facts about Cleopatra but overall good summery of history about Egypt, Greece and neighbouring places. Jul 13, Manoj Sharma rated it it was amazing.

Written in a very inimitable and flowing style. You can't put it d. Loved every page every word. It's more like a great novel than what could have become a tedious history text. Jul 27, Priti Dubey rated it it was amazing. Now I know where is Game of Thrones inspired from!! It has been told in the most concise and crisp manner, not leaving any detail yet not boring the reader layman with too many historical facts either. This book needs a newspaper editor.

By the time I got to the verb I couldn't remember the subject noun. Cleopatra comes from a family that has left its mark by engaging in crime and vice. Many, or maybe all, of her predecessors engaged in acts such as using the wealth of the nation for themselves, adultery and incest. For a very long time Egypt had Alexandria as its capital, thanking its origin to Alexander the Great.

Back in ancient times but also now Egypt was relatively isolated from the rest of the world. Ptolemy was the first ruler of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great and started Cleopatra comes from a family that has left its mark by engaging in crime and vice. Ptolemy was the first ruler of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great and started a long reign of prosperous and fertile Egypt, but filled with intrigues and vice.

Cleopatra as a young woman already showed the ambition and cunning required for an empress. When her father Ptolemy was reaching the end of his life, he however was more compelled to let a son be the emperor than his oldest child, Cleopatra. This dilemma he solved in the way many of his ancestors had done, he married Cleopatra to Ptolemy his son.

The true execution of the rule over Egypt he left to Pothinus an eunuch , Cleopatra and Ptolemy were only 18 and 10 years of age at the time. In the following years Cleopatra grew stronger but was exiled by a conspiracy between Ptolemy her husband and Pothinus over a struggle for power.

She would not be gone for long. In Syria a very central country in much of the history of the world she raised an army in order to fight her way back to rule.

Cleopatra - HISTORY

A battle never occurred because Ceasar won the civil war that had been raging in the Roman empire and by coincidence ended up in Alexandria. In one of her cunning moves she smuggled herself into Alexandria, Ceasar had tried to pursue Pompey there, where she presented her case to Ceasar.

Ceasar was taken back by her charm and daring moves and immediate resolved to get her to consolidate with her brother. They constitute Ceasar abandoning his duties as ruler of the Roman empire by staying in Alexandria for a great many years. Cleopatra bears multiple children who are presumed to be from Ceasar, a man who has a wife back in Rome. They together live in the most luxurious ways possible at that time and enjoy each others company.

After the assassination of Ceasar, Cleopatra succeeds in seducing the next ruler of the Roman empire, Anthony.

History of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

Their love leads to more adultery, vice and children. In the end Antony is defeated by opposing forces in the Roman empire and dies in Alexandria. Not much later Cleopatra is taken prisoner and eventually dies from poison she inflicts on herself. Cleopatra by Jacob Abbott is a tragic story, for all the power and wealth available to many of the main antagonists, they let their urges and needs take control instead of reason. Where Ceasar and Anthony were in great positions to rule the Roman empire without much opposition, they both chose to perish in Egypt.

If the history of Cleopatra shows anything, it is that even the greatest of man can fall by the touch of a woman. Although Cleopatra is a rather long read, it is worth it if you are interested in the history of Egypt and the fallibility of mankind. My advice is to read it when convenient. Oct 11, Alyse Smith Coleman rated it it was amazing. I loved this book! It was so interesting to learn about this part of history. I feel so much more informed now about their history and personalities. It was amazing to me all of the drama, war, and intrigue that went on in those days in those places.

I also loved the didactic way that Jacob Abbott narrated, something that people now stay away from in order to be politic I loved this book! I also loved the didactic way that Jacob Abbott narrated, something that people now stay away from in order to be politically correct. I don't mean that he was bigoted, but rather that he didn't shy from calling right right and wrong wrong.

He had no fear in saying that the fall of Cleopatra and others came because of their unrighteous lifestyles. I look forward to reading more of his histories. Nov 30, Roopkumar Balachandran rated it it was amazing. The first part of the book History of Cleopatra Queen of Egypt gave detailed information about the Ptolemies.

How they came to power and more information about Cleopatra's father his rise and fall and regaining his title by the help of Romans. The author had substantiated the bewitching beauty and her intelligence of Cleopatra in many chapters. After the death of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra who is now a Queen but still had dangerous threats to her throne. Then Mark Antony comes to the scene who has been captivated by her beauty and falls to her charms and becomes a slave bounded by invisible chain.

Ego clash of Octavius Augustus Caesar and Mark Antony goes on like a never ending story, after Mark Antony leaves Octavia for Cleopatra the mind of Octavius changes, and the story ends like a Greek tragedy.

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Antony takes his life and so Cleopatra.