Cleopatra Research Paper

0-9524CLEOPATRA
The Life of a Queen
00CLEOPATRA
The Life of a Queen
09112885By: Valyn Myrick
JH Ancient History
Section 2
Potters School
00By: Valyn Myrick
JH Ancient History
Section 2
Potters School

William Shakespeare once wrote a very famous play about Antony and Cleopatra. He described it as a love saga that is truly a fable of worshipping your beloved. He portrays the love of Antony and Cleopatra as the epitome of sacrifice. Their love story is among the most tragic ones, where both the lovers die instead of living ‘happily ever after.’ Even though Cleopatra was the cause of the end of Rome her love for Mark Antony was never ending.
Cleopatra was born in 69 B.C. She had four siblings named Berenice IV, Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy
XIII and Ptolemy XIV, and also may have had two half siblings named Cleopatra VI and Tryphaena II. Her parents were Ptolemy XII Auletes, her father, and Cleopatra V of Egypt, her mother. Cleopatra was born in Egypt during the Ptolemaic Dynasty. She was born the Princess of Egypt. Not much else was known about her childhood. Most of her siblings died from various causes. She was eighteen when she accepted the throne. Because of her age, she was forced to have a co-ruler, which had to be either a brother or a son. She married her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, when he was only twelve! Cleopatra was smart and cunning growing up.
She was also her father's favorite child and learned much about how the country was ruled from him. Cleopatra's family had ruled Egypt for 300 years prior to her reign. Their dynasty had been established by the Greek ruler Alexander the Great. Even though they ruled Egypt, they were actually of Greek descent. Cleopatra grew up speaking, reading, and writing Greek. Unlike many of her relatives however, Cleopatra also learned many other languages to include Egyptian and Latin. Cleopatra VII was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, ruling Egypt from 51 B.C. - 30 B.C. In 48 B.C., Egypt became embroiled in a conflict between Julius Caesar of Rome and Pompeii. Pompeii fled to the Egyptian capital of Alexandria, where he was murdered on the orders of
Ptolemy.
Cleopatra was the most famous of all the queens of Egypt. Cleopatra’s full name was, Cleopatra VII Philopator. She was of Macedonian Greek origin, and her family came to Egypt when Alexander the Great invaded. She ruled as the reincarnation of the goddess, Isis. Cleopatra is often shown to be beautiful in movies, books and plays; however, historians have unearthed statues and coins that show her with a long, hooked nose and a masculine face. It is often said that Cleopatra bathed in milk in order to preserve her skin and keep her looking youthful. It is uncertain whether or not this actually happened. Since she was royalty, she ate the finest foods grown in Egypt. Some foods at her feasts included: roasted wild boar, fish, duck, goose, peacock, oysters, sea urchins, olives, nuts, a variety of vegetables, and lentils.
Myths portray Cleopatra as a successful and prominent ruler. She was well educated, clever, highly ambitious, remarkably attractive, and extremely determined. Her striking beauty made men fall in love with her. Cleopatra was believed to be exotic in appearance, using make-up, perfumes, jewelry, and clothes as weapons of persuasion. This combined with her melodious voice made it a pleasure to be in her company. Being a wise woman, she used it to her own advantage making her lovers do what was necessary for her and her country. Cleopatra’s charisma made other people comply with her will. Despite the fact that Cleopatra was married to two of her brothers, she independently ruled on the throne of Egypt.
At one point in time, Cleopatra was forced to flee Egypt. She headed toward Syria with the intention of raising an army there. Simultaneously, in 48 B.C. Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt. Caesar had come to Egypt to chase down Pompeii the Great, whom he had just defeated at Pharsalus. When Cleopatra found that Julius Caesar had landed in Alexandria, she snuck back into the city. She realized that if she could win Julius Caesar over, his support would enable her to become the Queen of Egypt. Her first legendary meeting with him was well planned. It is said that she was rolled into a Persian carpet and presented to the royal Roman in this unusual fashion. Caesar was immediately charmed with her courage and beauty, and they consummated their relationship that night. Soon Caesar found Cleopatra and her ten-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII engaged in a civil war. She had no trouble convincing him to take her side in the dispute with Pothinus. Caesar supported her in the civil war against her brother.
Shortly thereafter, the Alexandrine War ensued. The war began when Pothinus called for Ptolemy XIII’s soldiers in November and surrounded Caesar in Alexandria with twenty thousand men. During the war, parts of the Alexandrian Library and some of the warehouses were burned; however, Caesar did manage to capture the Paros Lighthouse, which kept his control of the harbor. There were riots that followed in Alexandria. Ptolemy XIII was gone to Pelusium and Caesar placed himself in the royal palace and began giving out orders. The eunuch, Pothinus brought Ptolemy back to Alexandria. Cleopatra had no intentions of being left out of any deals that were going to be made. Both Cleopatra and Ptolemy were requested to appear before Caesar the next morning. When Ptolemy realized that Cleopatra and Caesar had become lovers, he stomped out screaming that he had been betrayed. He was hoping to arouse the Alexandrian mob. Ptolemy was soon captured by Caesar’s guards and brought back into the palace. Cleopatra was reinstated as queen with Roman military support. Ptolemy was killed and another of his brothers, Ptolemy XIII, was crowned co-ruler with Cleopatra.
Later in 47 B.C., Cleopatra bore Caesar a child, Caesarion; though, Caesar never publicly acknowledged him. When Caesar went back to Rome, Cleopatra followed him. They left on June the 10th. He left Rome because they hadn’t heard from him since December and they were in turmoil. She was very unpopular in Rome however, because the conspirators against Caesar feared that he would marry Cleopatra and begin a hereditary dynasty. Caesar was eventually killed in a conspiracy by his Senators. Many of the Senators thought he was a threat to the republic's well-being. It was thought that Caesar was making plans to have himself declared king.
When Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C., Cleopatra was living in his villa across the Tiber River. She watched in the time that followed to see whom would be the next ruler in Rome. Her presence had created discontent among the Roman people. Caesar had not mentioned Cleopatra or Caesarion in his will. She felt her life, as well as that of her child, was in great danger. Eventually, Cleopatra returned to Egypt. Ptolemy XIV died mysteriously at around this time. Cleopatra once again became ruler over Egypt and made her son Caesarion co-regent.
Several years after the assassination of Caesar, Cleopatra established a relationship with Mark Antony. When she heard that Antony was in Asia, she arranged to meet him on a spectacularly adorned barge. During their first meeting in Tarsus, Marc Antony “fell hopelessly in love with her. Cleopatra, conscious of her royalty and even her claims to divinity as the pharaoh’s daughter, seems to have hoped to use Antony to re-establish the real power of the Egyptian throne.” Charmed by Cleopatra’s beauty, Antony was ready to do everything possible for her. Knowing his weaknesses for luxury and indulgence, it was not long before Antony too was in her clutches. Cleopatra eventually fell in love with Marc Antony, who was one of the rulers of the Roman Empire. The Romans citizens, and Octavius, Antony’s wife, in particular, were very displeased at Antony's neglect of his responsibilities and relationship with Cleopatra. They eventually sought to take away his command. The battle of Actium followed.
In 32 to 31 B.C., Antony finally divorced Octavia. This forced the Western part of the world to recognize his relationship with Cleopatra. He had already put her name and face on a Roman coin, which was called the silver denarii. The denarii was widely circulated throughout the Mediterranean. By doing this, Antony's relationship with the Roman allegiance was ended and Octavian decided to publish Antony's will. Octavian then formally declared war against Cleopatra. Antony's name was nowhere mentioned in the official declaration. Many false accusations were made against Cleopatra saying that she was a harlot and a drunken Oriental. These accusations were most likely made out of fear of Cleopatra and Antony. Many probably thought that the New Isis would prevail and that Antony would start up a new wave of world conquest and rule in a co-partnership from Alexandria; however, Octavian's navy severely defeated Antony in Actium, on September 2, 31 B.C. Octavian's admiral planned and carried out the defeat. In less than a year, Antony half-heartedly defended Alexandria against the advancing army of Octavian but was losing ground.
Instead of fighting to the end, Antony and Cleopatra sailed back to Egypt while the battle was still raging. When Antony was taken aboard Cleopatra’s flag ship he was a broken man. He sat alone on the prow covering his face with his hands. Since all seemed hopeless, Antony committed suicide. Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, Caesarian, was put to death by Octavius.
After Antony's death, Cleopatra was taken to Octavian where her role in Octavian's triumph was carefully explained to her. She had no interest in any relationship, negotiation or reconciliation with the Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra would be displayed as a slave in the cities she had ruled over. She began to have had memories of her sister, Arsinoe. In the Alexandrian War, Cleopatra’s sister, Arsinoe, escaped from the palace and ran to Achillas. She was proclaimed the queen by the Macedonian mob and the army. Cleopatra never forgave her sister for this however, began to associate with the humiliation her sister must have felt during that timeframe. She decided she would not live this way, so she had an asp, an Egyptian cobra, brought to her hidden in a basket of figs. It is believed that she had the asp bite her and poison her to death. The Egyptian religion declared that death by snakebite would secure immortality. With this, she achieved her dying wish, to not be forgotten. She died on August 12, 30 B.C. at the young age of 39. Her other three children were raised by Antony’s wife Octavia. It can be said of Cleopatra, that she gained power through her relationship with one great Roman leader, Caesar, maintained it with another great Roman leader, Antony, and lost it because of a third and perhaps the greatest Roman leader, Octavian, who later became Caesar Augustus.
While one may call the history of Cleopatra facts, it is nonetheless better to approach the entire era of her reign as factoids instead. While the facts change across many platforms whether in print or on the internet, there is no conclusive evidence that the accounts of what took place centuries ago, is an eventful period written in stone. Nonetheless, many of us have come to know Cleopatra for her shrewd, powerful, and provocative ways. It's interesting to come across new facts about the people that mystify us, where Cleopatra has made history.
Archaeologists in Egypt think that they have discovered the burial place of Cleopatra and of, Mark Antony.
They found a columned entrance to a temple in Alexandria. They think it might contain the remains of Cleopatra. Excavation is now underway on a chamber where they might be discovered. An Egyptian Dominican team made the discovery at the temple of Taposiris Magna, which is west of the coastal city of Alexandria. The team began its work five years ago. Archeologists said, "This is one of my main goals is to this shaft, and we have a special wincher machine we designed, and we are going down thirty-five meters just since last week. And we are expecting there to have important news." The archaeologists discovered a headless granite statue. It is more than two-thousand years old. The statue is believed to belong to King Ptolemy the fourth! Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said, "The discovery of the entrance of the temple is very important, it can show that this temple was built exactly in the Pharaohnic style, and outside we should have other stands for sphinxes, that's really important discoveries in search of the beautiful, magical Queen, Queen Cleopatra." Other evidence suggests Cleopatra is not even buried inside her tomb. Because No remnants have been definitively identified, it is unknown which theory is
correct.
Egyptian Queen Cleopatra was an interesting woman. She was known for many great things and had vast achievements. She went to great measures to keep her grip on the powers she gained. She was very determined and focused and shows how persistence can pay off. Additionally, she was very selfish and shows us the result of that sinful nature as she is overtaken and dethroned multiple times. She loved Antony and models for us what that sacrifice of love should look like. On the contrary, her love of power caused an entire civilization to fall. Though ultimately, Cleopatra did not live a life that resembled one of character, there are many lessons to be embraced from her legacy.