When Cleopatra was 14, tragedy struck. One of the most expensive beauty secrets of Cleopatra was that she slept with a golden mask on her face. When she heard rumors that shed be taken to Rome, she was horrifiedshe didnt want to be paraded around as a prisoner. This page may contain sensitive or adult content that's not for everyone. The son of an army officer, he was primarily raised by his mother, as his father died when he was very young. Cleopatra, (Greek: "Famous in Her Father") in full Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator ("Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess"), (born 70/69 bce died August 30 bce, Alexandria), Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later as the wife of Mark Antony. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Many portrayals of Cleopatra depict the queen as a frivolous woman who dished out money like a drunken sailor particularly when it came to beauty rituals. Once again, she prepared to take her own life, and this time, she was successful. Or, see all newsletter options here. Germanicus trip, however, did not go down well with his adoptive father, the reigning emperor Tiberius, since the young man had broken the rules by going to Egypt without the emperors express permission. When John converted to Christianity at age 23, he decided to live with the monks in the mountains on the outskirts of Antioch. So, she married himafter all, it had worked with the last brother. According to his estimate, the pearls were worth 60 million sestertiiroughly $28.5 million dollars today. Antonywho considered himself the embodiment of the Greek god Dionysuswas instantly enchanted. She was also ruthless, reportedly killing several family members in order to solidify her power. In order to preserve the purity of their bloodline and to consolidate power, royals of the Ptolemaic dynasty married within the family. He took the name Emperor Augustus, and he carried a statue of her through Romes streets every August in triumph. Shes officially known as Cleopatra VII Philopater. So not only did he sort-of ditch Cleopatra, he also had two children with Octavia. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Alternate titles: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester. Yes, thats Ptolemy the brother-lover. Learn how Cleopatra's relationship with Caesar and Mark Anthony brought the downfall of Egypt. Get immediate access to the current issue and over 25,000 articles from the archives, plus the NYR App. Oh, and those bangs that Taylor and Leigh sported in their film bios? As for the fragmentary, difficult, and disputed archaeology of Alexandria, it continues to produce new theories on the possible site of her palace or her tomb, each one as implausible (and newsworthy) as the last. Cleopatras reign would have been a tough act to follow, and as it happened, no one did. Why would an Egyptian queen bear a Greek name, you ask? In 33 BC, Rome declared war on Egypt. While it is widely accepted that Antony fatally stabbed himself in the stomach, Cleopatras method of suicide is a topic of debate. Take, for example, that leopard-skin wine-sack, whose contents dribbled out along the road (presumably, we are meant to imagine, into the cups and flagons of the spectators). Despite two marriages (to her brothers) and an affair with a man 31 years her senior, it was when Cleopatra met Mark Antony that she found true love. Why, its because she was actually Greek. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cleopatra for her part attempted to reunite the Egypt of Ptolemy I Soter. At the time, Caesar was 52 years old, and Cleopatra was 21. After the Roman armies of Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) defeated their combined forces, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide, and Egypt fell under Roman domination. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. For those keeping tally, she had a hand in the deaths of three of her siblings. She set out for Tarsus in Asia Minor loaded with gifts, having delayed her departure to heighten Antonys expectation. Her first sibling-husband, Ptolemy XIII, ran her out of Egypt after she tried to take sole possession of the throne, and the pair later faced off in a civil war. Cleopatra, 1917. Cleopatra had been made up to look like the goddess Aphrodite, and she sat beneath a gilded canopy while attendants dressed as cupids fanned her and burned sweet-smelling incense. But as we know, Cleopatra wasnt interested in sharing the throne with anyone, and one again, the wheels began turning in her mind. Oh, and she was also determined that Mark Antony know about it. Either way, many of the events surrounding the final days of Cleopatra and Mark Antony are conjecture, and as Plutarch put it, what really took place is known to no one.. After the terrifying spectacle, many wouldve kept a low profilebut not Cleopatra. Upon her arrival, this hairstyle was adopted by Roman women along with Cleopatras makeup and signature pearl jewelry. When Mark Antony was served his second course, he was shocked to discover that his dish contained only strong vinegar. So, she married himafter all, it had worked with the last brother. Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile River after being defeated in battle. He had no idea what was coming next. Like many royal houses, members of the Ptolemaic dynasty often married within the family to preserve the purity of their bloodline. Check out 10 surprising facts about the fabled Queen of the Nile. Typical too is the contextual approach we find later when Schiff comes to the birth of Cleopatras son by Julius Caesar, Caesarion. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]). Ordered to appear before the general in Tarsus (in modern day Turkey), Cleopatra took her sweet time to get there, then arrived on a golden barge. Cleopatra the Alchemist ( Greek: ; fl. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. After the Battle of Actium, both Cleopatra and Mark Antony went their separate ways, each trying to find to a way to grip onto any remaining power they couldbut they knew their days were numbered. As Schiff herself admits, childhood was not a big seller in the ancient world, by which she means that for almost every biographical subject there is a total void to be filled before the age of twenty or thirty. Plutarch explains that a young medical student, Philotas, was there and witnessed life below stairs. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. With the arrival of the conquering Octavian (the future Roman emperor Augustus), Cleopatras husband, Mark Antony, committed suicide under the false impression that she was dead. Cleopatra was never one to be casual about anything. Whether Caesar was the father of Caesarion, as his name implies, cannot now be known. Finally, she went where she knew she would have at leastsomepowerback to Egypt, where she was co-regent with her younger brother/husband, Ptolemy XIV. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. According to lore, Cleopatra and Mark Antony enjoyed dressing up in disguise and wandering Rome while playing pranks on its unwitting citizens. back to Egypt, where she was co-regent with her younger brother/husband, Ptolemy XIV. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. WATCH: Cleopatra: The Last Pharaoh on HISTORY Vault. This story was told by the historian Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, written in 79 AD. Its a good thing that Cleopatra had this experience under her belt because when her father Pharaoh Ptolemy XII died, she was more than prepared. Her relationship with Antony had a political component as well: Cleopatra needed him to protect her crown (he did so by killing her sister, Arsinoe, a rival to the throne). For 300 years, her family spoke only Greek, so court documents, including the Rosetta stone, were bilingualwritten in both in Greek and Egyptian. There are obelisks called "Cleopatra's Needles" but they have nothing to do with Cleopatra VII.There is no name for Cleopatra's obelisk because she does not . It is, however, much harder to get a clear picture of Alexandrian society more generally, partly because it is now almost impossible to decide which of the ancient stories about Ptolemaic extravagance and spectacle are more or less true, and which are the product of the ancient myth of Alexandriaa city in which, as many ancient writers (Alexandrian and others) loved to fantasize, everything was dazzling, expensive, and brilliantly out of proportion. The Death of Cleopatra by Juan Luna, 1881. The mummy with the golden tongue was highly unusual, but it is only one of the fascinating relics that have been found in the 16 new burial shafts recently discovered by Kathleen Martinez and her Dominican-Egyptian team. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The name Cleopatra is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "glory of the father". News about upcoming issues, contributors, special events, online features, and more. Cleopatra was one of the most successful and powerful queens in history. She's officially known as Cleopatra VII Philopater. All Rights Reserved. It was clear to Octavian, watching from Rome, that Antony intended his extended family to rule the civilized world. Octavian told her hed keep her alive, but that was all he said. Who was Cleopatras Last Lover before her death? Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. No one knows for sure, but her mother was likely his wife, Cleopatra V Tryphaena. The naval Battle of Actium, in which Octavian faced the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra on September 2, 31 bce, was a disaster for the Egyptians. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. In Alexandria we must rely on heroic archaeology under water. Following Caesars death, Cleopatra tried to have her son Caesarion recognized as his heir to no avail. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. In the reign of Cleopatra (5130 BC), before the large-scale investment in building, art, and culture in Rome itself at the end of the first century BC, Alexandria was the jewel of the Mediterranean. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Best of The New York Review, plus books, events, and other items of interest. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. The name Cleopatra (in Greek ) means she who comes from glorious father.. When summoned to meet the Roman Triumvir in Tarsus, she is said to have arrived on a golden barge adorned with purple sails and rowed by oars made of silver. In this case the rich evidence on papyrus that survives from Greco-Roman Egypt hardly helps. Make no mistake: This was one smart cookie. Although Cleopatra was born in Egypt, she's actually of Macedonian Greek descent. (She was known to conceal a poison in one of her hair combs. Antony would impale himself with a sword, but the method of Cleopatras demise is in doubt. She spoke as many as a dozen languages and was educated in mathematics, philosophy, oratory and astronomy, and Egyptian sources later described her as a ruler who elevated the ranks of scholars and enjoyed their company. Theres also evidence that Cleopatra wasnt as physically striking as once believed. Noticing eight boars being cooked, he assumed that a very large party was being catered. Corrections? During Cleopatras relationship with Caesar, she introduced him to her astronomer, Sosigenes of Alexandria. For Cleopatra there are also periods of several years later in her career when we know next to nothing of her life or whereabouts. Cleopatra's life was replete with drama, so it makes sense that writers would be drawn to it. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. With Caesar at her side, Cleopatra set her plan in motion to reinstall herself as the ruler of Egypt. In keeping with this custom, Cleopatra eventually married both of her adolescent brothers, each of whom served as her ceremonial spouse and co-regent at different times during her reign. Cleopatrasmeeting Mark Antony was truly dramatic. The name Cleopatra is a girls name of Greek origin meaning glory of the father. In 50 BC, only a year after she ascended to the throne, Cleopatra became embroiled in a dispute between Roman troops and a Syrian governor. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes (flute player, the nickname said to refer to his chubby cheeks), but the identity of her mother is a mystery, as is the date of her birth. She became queen on the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 bce and ruled successively with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII (5147) and Ptolemy XIV (4744) and her son Ptolemy XV Caesar (4430). The Alexandrians themselves were a good match for their city. 14 September 407 (aged c. 58) Comana in Pontus. Featured image: The Death of Cleopatra by Reginald Arthur, 1892. When Cleopatra was born in 69 BC, just over 2,100 years ago, it was at the end of the Egyptian Pharaoh dynasties and the beginning of a new phase in Egyptian history. While Roman historian Dio Cassius described Cleopatra as a woman of surpassing beauty, a number of modern historians have characterized her as less than exceptionally attractive. Themselves were a good match for their city the archives, plus books, events, and items. Royals of the Ptolemaic dynasty often married within the family cookies, Reddit still., can not now be known his Natural history, written in 79 AD one smart Cookie killing. 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