Profile of Cleopatra VII

 

Full Name: Cleopatra VII Philopator
Date of Birth: 69 BCE
Date of Death: August 10, 30 BCE
Cause of Death: Traditionally believed to have died by suicide, possibly by asp bite (though some historians suggest poison).

Family and Relationships

Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, a dynasty of Greek origin. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes and had several siblings, including Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, whom she co-ruled with at different points.

She is most famously known for her romantic and political alliances with two of Rome’s most powerful leaders:

• Julius Caesar – Cleopatra had a son with Caesar, Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, commonly known as Caesarion.
• Mark Antony – She had three children with Antony: Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene II, and Ptolemy Philadelphus.

How She Died

Following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra’s forces at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE by Octavian (later Augustus Caesar), Cleopatra and Antony retreated to Egypt. Antony, believing Cleopatra had already died, committed suicide by stabbing himself. Cleopatra, realizing that Octavian planned to capture her and parade her through Rome as a defeated queen, is believed to have taken her own life, possibly by allowing a venomous asp (Egyptian cobra) to bite her. However, some scholars argue she may have used poison instead.

Interesting Facts

• Cleopatra was highly intelligent and multilingual, reportedly speaking multiple languages, including Egyptian, Greek, and several others.
• She was not ethnically Egyptian but Greek, descending from the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty, founded by Ptolemy I, one of Alexander the Great’s generals.
• Unlike other Ptolemaic rulers, she embraced Egyptian culture and was the first in her dynasty to learn the Egyptian language.
• She was a skilled political strategist, using diplomacy, charm, and intelligence to form alliances that helped maintain Egypt’s independence for a time.
• Cleopatra styled herself as the reincarnation of the goddess Isis, strengthening her divine status in Egypt.

How History Has Depicted Her

Cleopatra has been portrayed in numerous ways throughout history.

• Ancient Roman sources, particularly those influenced by Octavian’s propaganda, depicted her as a dangerous seductress who used her beauty to manipulate powerful men.
• Renaissance and Neoclassical art romanticized her, emphasizing her tragic death and exoticism.
• Modern depictions, such as in Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra and Hollywood films like the 1963 film Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, have continued to portray her as a powerful yet tragic figure.

Despite these varied portrayals, Cleopatra remains one of history’s most fascinating rulers—an intelligent, ambitious, and politically savvy queen who played a crucial role in the final years of ancient Egypt.