Cleopatra VII Philopator is an Egyptian queen whose biography is still discussed to this day. Not being attractive in appearance, Cleopatra managed to gain the attention of two great Roman commanders - and. This love triangle has found its echoes in many books and films: directors make films, and writers talk about the image of this femme fatale on the pages of their works.
Childhood and youth
Cleopatra was born on November 2, 69 BC. The true place of birth still remains a mystery, but it is generally accepted that her homeland is the cultural center of the ancient world, Alexandria. Contrary to popular belief, the queen did not have a drop of Egyptian blood and came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by the Diadochi Ptolemy I, and therefore had Greek roots.
Almost nothing is known about Cleopatra’s childhood and youth. But it is worth assuming that the future ruler voraciously read books in the Library of Alexandria and studied music, since she knew how to reason philosophically, think logically, played various instruments and knew eight foreign languages.
This is surprising because in those days the Greeks did not care about the education of children, especially girls. For example, her sister Berenice was of a completely opposite nature: she loved entertainment, was quite lazy and thoughtless. In 58-55 BC. Cleopatra had to watch as her father Ptolemy XII Auletes was expelled from the country, and power was concentrated in the hands of his daughter Berenice (the ancient Greek historian Strabo noted that Berenice was the only legitimate daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, so there is an opinion that Cleopatra was born from a concubine).
Later, by the forces of the Romans under the leadership of Aulus Gabinius, the king again ascended the throne of Egypt. However, he could not skillfully use power, so repression, delinquent behavior in society and brutal murders spread under him. Thus, Ptolemy subsequently became a puppet controlled by Roman governors. Of course, these events left an imprint on Cleopatra’s mind: later the girl recalled the reckless reign of her father, who remained in her memory as the person whose mistakes she needed to learn from.
Rule of Egypt
After Ptolemy XII Auletes returned what was rightfully his, the heiress Berenice was beheaded. After the death of the king, according to tradition, which called for preserving the divine blood of the royal families, 17 (18) year old Cleopatra married her 9 (10) year old brother Ptolemy XIII and began to rule Egypt. True, formally, since she could only have full power cyclically: in ancient times, girls were destined for a secondary role. She ascended the throne as Thea Philopator, which meant "goddess who loves the father."
It is worth saying that Egypt was desired by the Romans, despite the fact that 96% of the territory in this country is occupied by deserts. But the valleys - the treasure troves of the Nile civilization - are famous for their exceptional fertility. Therefore, during the reign of Cleopatra, one of the most powerful empires - the Roman - laid claim to the territory of Egypt: some of the outer regions of Ta-kemet belonged to the Romans, but the country itself was not completely conquered. Therefore, Egypt (also due to financial debts) turned into a dependent state.
The first years of her reign turned out to be difficult for Cleopatra, because there was not enough food in the country: an insufficient flood of the Nile provoked a two-year crop failure. In addition, the battle for the throne began - internecine wars between brother and sister. Initially, the queen removed her husband and ruled the country alone, but, becoming older, Ptolemy XIII did not accept the arbitrariness of his relative and, relying on his tutor Pothin, who was also the regent and de facto ruler, organized a rebellion against Cleopatra. The people were told that the girl had stopped obeying the ruling trio of Pothinus, Theodatus and Achilles and wanted to overthrow her younger brother.
The queen fled to Syria and thus remained alive. Being an uninvited guest in the Middle East, the girl dreamed of returning full power. Around the same time, the dictator and ancient Roman commander Gaius Julius Caesar went to Alexandria in order to overtake his sworn enemy Pompey: defeated in the civil war (Battle of Pharsalus), Gnaeus fled to Egypt. However, Julius was unable to get even with his enemy personally, because when the emperor arrived in the Nile Valley, Pompey had already been killed.
Caesar had to stay in Alexandria due to weather conditions unfavorable for the long journey, so the ruler of Rome did not miss the opportunity to collect the accumulated debts of Ptolemy XII Auletes from his successor (ten million denarii). So Julius took part in the conflict between the comrades of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, hoping to benefit both himself and the Romans.
In turn, the queen needed to win Caesar’s trust, so, according to a beautiful legend, in order to win the commander over to her side, the resourceful girl secretly entered the Alexandria Palace: she wrapped herself in a carpet (or in a bed bag) and ordered her faithful slave to deliver a generous gift . Julius, fascinated by the beauty of the young queen, took her side.
But it is worth noting that the commander came to Egypt with a small army (3,200 warriors and 800 horsemen). Ptolemy XIII took advantage of this circumstance. Society supported the ruler, so Julius had to hide in the royal quarter, putting his life in danger. In winter, Julius Caesar again invaded Egypt and defeated the army of supporters of Ptolemy XIII, who drowned in the Nile. Therefore, Cleopatra again ascended the throne and ruled together with the young Ptolemy XIV.
Personal life
Legends are still made about Cleopatra's personal life. Thanks to the cinema, this ambitious girl was seen in the performances of (“Cleopatra” (1963)), (“Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002)) and other film actresses who played the ruler. Therefore, many believe that Cleopatra is a fatal beauty who seduced men with just one look. But, contrary to popular belief, the appearance of the Egyptian queen was rather mediocre.
What Cleopatra looked like is not known for certain. But we can judge from some statues and a bust from Cherchell in Algeria (there is an opinion that this bust belongs to Cleopatra’s daughter Selene II), as well as from the face depicted on coins, that the queen had a rather large nose and a narrow chin. But women's charms and intelligence helped Cleopatra make her faithful admirers out of men. She was not a noble person; sometimes cruelty could be traced in her character. For example, the queen often tested poisons on prisoners and watched them die in order to test the effect of a dangerous potion on the body.
It was rumored that Cleopatra was a loving girl. In fact, promiscuity between a man and a woman was not condemned in Rome and Ancient Egypt; kings and queens had several lovers and concubines. According to legend, madmen paid with their lives to share a bed with the Siren of the Nile: after a night with Cleopatra, their heads became trophies and were exhibited in the palace.
Beautiful legends are still made up about the relationship between the Egyptian queen and the Roman commander Julius Caesar. Indeed, it was love at first sight. For the sake of 21-year-old Cleopatra, the emperor forgot his mistress Servilia.
After defeating Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra and Caesar set off on a pleasure trip along the Nile, accompanied by 400 ships. June 23, 47 BC The lovers had a son, Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion). It can be said that because of his alliance with Cleopatra, Caesar brought disaster upon himself. The Egyptian queen, her brother and son arrived in Rome, surrounded by a large retinue. The girl was disliked because of her arrogance, so she was called the queen without adding a name (“I hate the queen,” Cicero wrote in his manuscript).
Those close to Caesar were sure that the dictator wanted to become the new pharaoh and make Alexandria the capital of Rome. The Romans did not like this turn of events, and for this and other reasons a conspiracy arose against Julius. March 15, 44 BC Caesar was killed. After the death of Julius, a civil war began between the Romans, in which Cleopatra did not intervene. Mark Antony was proclaimed ruler of the eastern territory of Rome.
The commander was going to accuse the queen of assisting against Caesar, but Cleopatra, knowing about Mark’s amorousness and vanity, acted with feminine cunning. She arrived on a gilded ship full of treasures, dressed as Aphrodite, and charmed the ancient Roman commander. Thus began a romance that lasted about ten years. In 40 BC. The lovers gave birth to twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. In the autumn of 36 BC. The third child, Ptolemy Philadelphus, was born.
Death
There are many fictions about the death of Cleopatra, so it is almost impossible to reconstruct this event with the greatest accuracy. The generally accepted version is the story that was presented. True, his version was later interpreted in their own way by writers, because Cleopatra’s biography provided background for romantic works. So, others wrote poems about the queen.
Octavian Augustus, the legitimate heir to the Roman throne, arrived in Rome in the spring. Local residents warmly received the young man, but the active army and admirers of Caesar stood on the side of Mark Antony. The Mutino War soon followed, from which Octavian emerged victorious. When Augustus moved towards Alexandria, Mark Antony was given false news about the death of the queen. Mark could not withstand such a tragedy, so he threw himself on his own sword. At that moment, Cleopatra and her maids locked themselves in the tomb; The wounded lover of the Egyptian seductress was taken there.
Mark died in the arms of a crying girl. The queen wanted to demonstratively stab herself with a dagger, but began negotiations with Octavian’s subject. The Siren of the Nile hoped to bribe Augustus with her charms in order to restore the state, but all attempts were in vain. After the death of her beloved, Cleopatra fell into depression, starved herself and did not get out of bed. Cornelius Dolabella informed the widow that she would be exiled to Rome for Octavian's triumph.
According to ancient Roman custom, Augustus, in honor of the victory over Egypt, was going to lead Cleopatra behind the triumphal chariot, chained like a slave. But the queen managed to avoid shame: in a pot of figs, which was delivered to the palace at the behest of Cleopatra, a snake was hidden - its bite gave the woman a quiet and painless death. The location of Cleopatra’s mummy is still unknown, but most likely, the queen and her lover Mark Antony are buried under the necropolis temple near Taposiris Magna (modern Abusir).
- Ancient alchemists believed that Cleopatra was the owner of the philosopher's stone and could turn any metal into gold.
- According to legend, the queen met with Mark Antony on Cleopatra Island, famous for its golden sand, which was brought there especially for the Egyptian seductress.
- Cleopatra was fond of cosmetology. According to rumors, the queen bathed in a bath with milk and honey. She also made creams from a mixture of herbs and lard.
- According to another version, Cleopatra was killed by poison, which she stored in a hollow head pin.
Memory
Movies:
- Cleopatra (1934)
- Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Two Nights with Cleopatra (1954)
- Legions of Cleopatra (1959)
- Cleopatra (1963)
- Discovery: Queens of Ancient Egypt (TV) (2000)
- Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer (TV) (2009)
Books:
- The Diaries of Cleopatra. Book 1: The Rise of a Queen (Margaret George)
- Cleopatra (Karin Essex)
- Cleopatra. The Last of the Ptolemies (Michael Grant)
- Cleopatra's last passion. A new novel about the Queen of Love (Natalia Pavlishcheva)
If it didn't exist, it would have to be invented. Her life inspired first painters and poets, then playwrights and filmmakers. They like to present her relationship with Caesar and Mark Antony in the form of 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.
Behind all this, somehow the fact that Cleopatra VII was the last Egyptian pharaoh was completely forgotten.
CHILDHOOD: 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 the 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, Cleopatra VI, the next contender to the throne, dies of an unknown illness.
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.
YOUTH: QUEEN OF EGYPT
Pharaoh Ptolemy XII dies in 51. The throne passes to Cleopatra VII and one of her younger brothers, twelve-year-old Ptolemy XIII, whom she immediately marries. That year she turned 17 years old.
Contrary to popular belief, the last Egyptian queen was not at all pretty. On ancient coins we see her image - a long nose, masculine facial features. 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.
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 with her younger sister Arsinoe.
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 have been living in a villa 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.
CLEOPATRA AND MARK ANTONY: THE CALCULATION WAS WRONG
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 accurately identifies Mark Antony's weak points 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 awaits 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.
CLEOPATRA AND OCTAVIAN: LEAVE THE KINGDOM TO MY CHILDREN
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.
DEATH OF THE LAST PHARAOH
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.
Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in the film "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945)
Quotes: 1. Men are not Gods... They don’t need our souls. 2. Every day is like the last! 3. Never fight a strong person until you are just as strong yourself! 4. There was an imprint of eternity on our lips and eyes. 5. We welcome all strange and terrible events, but we despise comfortable ones.
Achievements:
Professional, social position: Cleopatra was the ruler of Egypt from 51 to 30 AD. BC
Main contribution (known for): Cleopatra, during her 21-year reign, revived and preserved the identity of Egypt. She is the image and example of a woman who uses her intelligence, ingenuity and charm to conquer powerful husbands and achieve her goals.
Deposits: Cleopatra was a member of the Hellenic aristocracy, her ancestors were Macedonians who spoke a dialect of Greek, however, she became the first ruler of the dynasty to learn the Egyptian language.
She also adopted and revived the customs, deities and rites of ancient Egypt. She adopted the symbol of the Goddess Hathor, the daughter of the Sun God Ra.The goddess Isis was considered her patroness and, as a result, during her reign it was believed that she was the reincarnation and embodiment of the goddess of wisdom.
The young queen of Egypt may have saved her country from becoming a province of the expanding Roman Empire.
All this influenced the creation of the image of Cleopatra in culture, as a woman who used her charm to conquer the most influential husbands of the Western world.
The death of Cleopatra marks the end of the Hellenistic period of Ptolemaic rule and the beginning of the Roman era in the eastern Mediterranean.
Life:
Origin: She was born in 69 BC in Alexandria. Cleopatra's father Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus was a direct descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, and her mother Cleopatra V was Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra was the third daughter in the family. She also had a younger sister and two younger brothers.
Education:
Cleopatra received a good education, especially in the field of foreign languages. Her natural talent allowed her to be fluent in her native Greek, Egyptian, Aramaic, Ethiopian, Persian, Hebrew, Berber and Latin.
Main stages of activity:
Board: 51 BC - August 12, 30 BC
Her co-rulers:
Ptolemy XIII (51 - 47 BC)
Ptolemy XIV (47 - 44 BC)
Caesarion (44 - 30 BC)
She was the last pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty, of Macedonian origin, who ruled Egypt starting in 304 BC. Cleopatra ruled Egypt with her two brothers and husbands Ptolemy XIII (51 - 47 BC) and Ptolemy XIV (47 - 44 BC) and with her son, Ptolemy XV, or Caesarion ( 44 - 30 BC).
Her whole life was spent in a complex struggle for power, in which she skillfully used her natural intelligence, charm and beauty.
As a child, Cleopatra was greatly impressed by the uprising of 58-55, during which her father Ptolemy XII was overthrown and expelled from Egypt, and Cleopatra’s sister Berenice became queen. Her father was later restored to the throne with the help of the Roman governor of Syria, Gabinius. Ptolemy XII began brutal repressions during which her sister Berenice also died.
When in March 51 BC. e. Her father died, 18-year-old Cleopatra and her brother 12-year-old Ptolemy XIII began to jointly rule Egypt. In 50 BC Cleopatra came into serious conflict with the troops of the Roman governor Gabinius and soon lost power. She tried to start a rebellion around Sin, but was defeated and was forced to go into hiding with her sister Arsinoe.
During the civil war in Rome, in 48 BC. Pompey fled from Caesar to Alexandria. By order of 15-year-old Ptolemy, Pompey was beheaded in front of his wife and children. When Caesar arrived in Egypt two days later, Ptolemy presented him with the severed head of Pompey. And although Pompey was an enemy of Caesar, this angered him and Cleopatra immediately saw an opportunity to use Caesar’s anger towards Ptolemy for her own purposes.
When they met, Caesar was struck by Cleopatra's intelligence and extraordinary beauty and subsequently helped her become the sole ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy XIII died fighting against Caesar and Cleopatra was restored to the throne. She married her second brother, Ptolemy XIV, but was effectively the sole ruler of Egypt.
In 46 BC. Caesar invited her to Rome. She was visiting him in Rome just at the time he was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC as a result of a conspiracy. In April of the same year, Cleopatra returned to Alexandria, where Ptolemy XIV soon died under mysterious circumstances. After this, she made her infant son Caesarion her partner on the throne.
After 37 BC e. she and Antony jointly opposed Rome, and in 32 BC. Rome declared war on Cleopatra, viewing their union as a threat to the Roman Empire and Octavian.
After defeat at the naval Battle of Actium (31 BC), Cleopatra and Antony attempted to make peace with Octavian, but were unsuccessful. Alexandria was surrendered in 30 BC and Antony and then Cleopatra committed suicide.
Main stages of personal life: In 48 BC Cleopatra met Julius Caesar, who arrived in Egypt in pursuit of Pompey. She entered Caesar's palace wrapped in a carpet, which was intended as a gift for Caesar. Cleopatra skillfully took advantage of the situation and defeated Caesar with her ingenuity, courage and beauty.
Although Cleopatra was only 21 and he was 52 years old when she met Caesar, they became lovers and their love affair continued throughout Caesar's stay in Egypt from 48 to 47 BC.
Nine months after their first meeting, in '47. BC Cleopatra gave birth to his child. He was named Caesar or Caesarion by Ptolemy, meaning "little Caesar".
In 41 BC e. she agreed to meet Mark Antony on her ship at Tarsus in Cilicia. Legend has it that Cleopatra dressed as the Roman goddess of love, Venus. She filled her ship with so many rose petals that the Romans smelled the scent before they saw her ship. At dusk o a huge ship made of precious wood, under scarlet sails andto the sounds of gentle music, approached Anthony. When night fell, bright lights flashed on the ship.
She charmed Antony and subsequently gave birth to twins: a boy, Alexander Helios (“Sun”), and a girl, Cleopatra Selene (“Moon”).
Cleopatra hoped to bind Anthony to herself, but in the spring of 40 BC. he left Egypt. Antony returned to Rome and married Octavian's cousin Octavia. They had two daughters. But in 37 BC. he fled back to Cleopatra.
He married her in 36 BC. and she bore him another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus.
In 31 BC. Cleopatra tried to negotiate with Octavian for recognition of her children as the legal successors of Egypt. But since Octavian demanded Anthony’s death in return, Cleopatra refused. After Antony committed suicide, Cleopatra followed suit, committing suicide by snakebite on August 12, 30 BC. e.
Her son Caesarion, who was declared pharaoh, was killed by order of Octavian.
Personality.Cleopatra was famous for her beauty, intelligence and character, which unusually combined power and female sexuality.
Cleopatra was a charming, seductive and at the same time intelligent and educated woman who spoke 9 languages. She was distinguished by personal courage and magnetism and had sufficient personal strength to be feared by the Romans.
Cassius Dio spoke of Cleopatra's attractiveness: “She was a woman of extraordinary beauty and in the very prime of her youth, she slayed with her charm. She also had the most captivating voice and the knowledge of how to please everyone."
Highlight: Cleopatra, had Macedonian, Greek and Iranian genes. On the coins, Cleopatra is depicted in profile, with wavy hair, large eyes, a prominent chin and a hooked nose. In his Pensées, philosopher Blaise Pascal argued that Cleopatra's classically beautiful profile changed world history: "If Cleopatra's nose had been shorter, the whole appearance of the world would have changed." However, some historians believed that she was not beautiful and had many masculine features.
Cleopatra VII (69 - 30 BC) - the last queen of Egypt, the most famous woman of the ancient era.
Cleopatra was born on November 2, 69 BC. e. She is one of the three (known) daughters of King Ptolemy XII Auletes of the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty, founded by Ptolemy I, the general of Alexander the Great.
No reliable images of Clepatra have survived. There are several ancient busts of Cleopatra, the most reliable is the Algerian bust of Cleopatra, now located in the Berlin Museum of Antiquity, created after her death on the occasion of the wedding of Cleopatra’s daughter. Some scientists believe that this is a bust of Cleopatra herself in her last years, others believe that the bust does not depict Cleopatra, but her daughter. Images of Cleopatra have been preserved on coins cast during her reign, but it is difficult to say to what extent they reflect her actual appearance.
The ancient Greek historian Plutarch, who saw the portrait of Cleopatra, in the biography of Mark Antony describes Cleopatra’s appearance as follows: “the beauty of this woman was not what is called incomparable and amazes at first sight, but her manner was distinguished by irresistible charm, and therefore her appearance, combined with rare persuasiveness speeches, with enormous charm, visible in every word, in every movement, firmly engraved into the soul. The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her tongue was like a multi-stringed instrument, easily tuned to any mood, to any dialect, so only. She spoke with very few barbarians through an interpreter, and most often she herself talked with strangers - Ethiopians, troglodytes, Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Medes, Parthians... They say that she learned many languages, while the kings who ruled before her did not know even Egyptian, and some have forgotten Macedonian."
The Roman historian Sextus Aurelius Victor, who had a negative attitude towards Cleopatra, writes about her this way: “She was so depraved that she often prostituted herself, and had such beauty that many men paid with their death for possessing her for one night.” However, Roman sources describing Cleopatra should not be trusted, because Cleopatra in the eyes of the Romans was an enemy, and the ancient historiography of Cleopatra was inspired by Cleopatra’s conqueror, Emperor Octavian Augustus, who did not at all want to idealize her.
Testament of Ptolemy XII, who died in March 51 BC. e., transferred the throne to Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, who was then about 9 years old, and with whom she was united in a formal marriage, since, according to Ptolemaic custom, a woman could not reign on her own. At first, Cleopatra ruled alone, removing her young brother, but then the latter gained revenge, relying on the eunuch Pothinus (who was something like the head of government) and the commander Achilles.
At this time, there was a civil war in the Roman Republic between Caesar and Pompey. Defeated, Pompey fled to Egypt, hoping to find support, but was killed by Ptolemy's entourage, who hoped to gain Caesar's favor. However, Caesar, having arrived in Egypt, was angry at the reprisal against Pompey. Caesar decides to restore order in Egypt, torn apart by the strife between Cleopatra and her brother. Plutarch, in his biography of Caesar, describes the first meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra:
“Cleopatra, taking with her only one of her friends, Apollodorus of Sicily, got into a small boat and, at nightfall, landed near the royal palace. Since it was otherwise difficult to remain unnoticed, she climbed into a bed bag and stretched out in it to her full length. Apollodorus tied the bag with a belt and carried it through the courtyard to Caesar. They say that this cunning of Cleopatra seemed bold to Caesar and captivated him. Finally conquered by Cleopatra’s courtesy and her beauty, he reconciled her with the king so that they could reign together.”
A rebellion began against Caesar in Egypt, which Caesar managed to suppress. King Ptolemy died. Cleopatra, formally united with her other young brother Ptolemy XIV, actually became the undivided ruler of Egypt under the Roman protectorate, the guarantee of which was the three legions left in Egypt.
Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Caesar, who was named Caesarion. In the summer of 46 BC. Caesar summons Cleopatra to Rome (formally, to conclude an alliance between Rome and Egypt). Cleopatra was given Caesar's villa in his gardens on the banks of the Tiber. There was even a rumor that Caesar was going to take Cleopatra as his second wife and move the capital to Alexandria. Caesar himself ordered a gilded statue of Cleopatra to be placed at the altar of Venus the Progenitor (Venus as the mythical ancestor of the Julian family to which he belonged). However, Caesar did not dare to officially recognize Caesarion as his son.
Caesar was killed as a result of a conspiracy on March 15, 44 BC. e. A month later, in mid-April, Cleopatra left Rome and arrived in Alexandria in July. Shortly after this, 14-year-old Ptolemy XIV died. According to Josephus, he was poisoned by his sister: the birth of a son gave Cleopatra a formal co-ruler. In this situation, her growing brother was completely unnecessary to her.
A civil war began in Rome between Caesar's killers, Cassius and Brutus, on the one hand, and his heirs Antony and Octavian, on the other. Antony and Octavian won. During the division of the Roman world, carried out after the defeat of the Republicans, Antony got the East. Antony, planning a war with the Parthians, arrives in Egypt to secure Egyptian help. At the time of their meeting, Cleopatra was 29 years old, Antony was 40. The queen arrived at the meeting with Antony, according to Plutarch, “on a boat with a gilded stern, purple sails and silvered oars, which moved to the tune of a flute, harmoniously
combined with the whistling of pipes and the rattling of citharas. The queen rested under a canopy embroidered with gold in the headdress of Aphrodite, as the painters depict her, and on both sides of the bed stood boys with fans - like Eros in paintings. In the same way, the most beautiful slaves were dressed as Nereids and Charites and stood some at the stern oars, some at the ropes. Wonderful incense rose from countless incense burners and spread along the banks." Anthony was completely captivated by Cleopatra. Their romance lasted more than 10 years until their death. Cleopatra had three children from Anthony.
By 32 BC. Relations between former allies - Antony and Octavian - finally turned from friendly to hostile. Anthony, who was carried away by Cleopatra and broke up with his official wife Octavia (sister of Octavian), who distributed Roman lands to the children of Cleopatra, began to look like a traitor in the eyes of the Romans. At the Battle of Actium on September 2, 31 BC. e. The fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra lost, the defeated returned to Egypt and tried to escape to India, but when they tried to drag the ships across the Isthmus of Suez, they were burned by the Arabs. The escape plan had to be abandoned.
When Octavian reached Egypt, Antony committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Cleopatra tried to seduce Octavian or at least come to an agreement with him, but this time the charms of the 39-year-old queen were powerless. Octavian wanted to take Cleopatra as a prisoner to Rome to take part in his triumph, but Cleopatra committed suicide. According to the most common version, Cleopatra died from a snake bite, but the snake was not found in the room. According to another, more plausible version, Cleopatra was poisoned. This version is supported by the quick death of Cleopatra, the fact that shortly before her death she tested poisons on prisoners, and finally, the fact that two dead maids were found with Cleopatra (it is doubtful that one snake killed three people). Octavian tried unsuccessfully to revive Cleopatra with the help of the Psylli, an exotic tribe that knew how to suck out poison without harming itself.
The image of Cleopatra has been depicted many times in cinema. The most famous performer of the role of Cleopatra is Elizabeth Taylor, who left us on March 23. The film Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor was released in 1963.
Elizabeth Teylov's predecessors in playing the role of Cleopatra were no less famous actresses - Vivien Leigh (the film "Caesar and Cleopatra", 1945) and Sophia Loren (the film "Two Nights with Cleopatra", 1953).
Among the modern incarnations of Cleopatra in cinema, one can note, for example, Monica Bellucci in the film “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra”.
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". The femme fatale's face 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 that her external beauty was not at all incomparable... however, she talked with irresistible charm. On the one hand, her appearance, combined with her seductive speech, and on the other, her character, inexplicably manifested in all her actions... captivated those around her to the highest degree. 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 hardly met modern standards of 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 used them to emphasize the well-fed life of their models, but, according to a number of experts, 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, behaved like a king at a very early age.
Without diplomatic skills it was difficult to survive. At 17 years old 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 winner's revenge. Soon Gaius Julius Caesar himself appeared here. Cleopatra had previously been expelled from Alexandria by her brother's supporters. The 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 beauty of the queen, 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. Nowadays 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, since in those troubled times he trusted the provincial governors appointed from Rome 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.
And yet 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 the 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 grand-nephew 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 for purely political purposes. 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 are the distinctive features of 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...
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.
