Born towards 70 BC, Cleopatra VII (r. 51-30 BC) was of Macedonian heritage and reigned as an Egyptian queen, ruling an empire that included Egypt, Cyprus, part of modern-day Libya and other territories in the Middle East.
Her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes (r. 80-58, 55-51 BC), conceived six children: Cleopatra Tryphaena, the eldest, Berenice IV wife of Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes (r. 83–69 BC) who was later executed by Ptolemy XII; Arsinoe IV, and two sons Ptolemy XIII, and XIV. Both Ptolemy XIII, and XIV shared the throne with her during various times. Her mother was Cleopatra V Tryphaena (r. 79-68 BC).
During her reign, the Nile overflowed Egypt's banks every summer and receded every autumn leaving behind fertile mud. Alexandria's principle exports were papyrus, linen, scent, salt, oil, ivory, architectural and sculptural stones, emeralds, silver utensils, glass vases, along with various woolen goods.
Alexandria's Library and its Museum, founded by Ptolemy I Soter (r. 305-282 BC), featured fine gardens, fountains, restaurants and became research centers for the Mediterranean world. It was a place where scholars lived tax free.
Cleopatra first ascended the throne in 51 BC with her brother Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (r. 51-47 BC) as co-monarch. In 49 BC, it's likely that she took refuge in Upper Egypt. Later papyrus attributes year three of her reign to Ptolemy XIII. It appears as if Ptolemy XIII were king since the death of their father, Ptolemy XII Auletes (r. 80-58, 55-51 BC).
Following her return to Alexandria at 21-years-old, an enamored Julius Caesar (d. 100-44 BC) took her political side against Ptolemy XIII, her half-brother and husband, who lost his life escaping from a massacre along Lake Mareotis. Unable to rule without a co-monarch, her surviving half-brother, Ptolemy XIV Philopator (r. 47-44 BC), was elevated to the position at about age 12.
Cleopatra bore four offsprings: Ptolemy Caesar, twins Alexander and Cleopatra, and Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Nabataean king, Malichus I (c. 59-30 BC), eventually came into conflict with Cleopatra VII after Mark Antony (d. 83-30 BC) granted her Nabataean territories in the Gulf of Aqaba along the Red Sea. Malichus I and Judean king Herod I the Great (r. 37-4 BC) failed to show up and support Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony during the Battle of Actium (c. 31 BC), a victory for their rival Octavian (r. 27 BC - 14 AD).
Cleopatra lived until the age of 39. Her death marked the end of the Ptolemaic Empire (r. 305-30 BC) and the beginning of Roman Empire.
Her own beauty, so we are told, was not of that incomparable kind which instantly captivates the beholder. But the charm of her presence was irresistible, and there was an attractiveness in her person and talk, together with a peculiar force of character which pervaded her every word and action, and laid all who associated with her under its spell. It was a delight merely to hear the sound of her voice...
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Like this post? Stop by and read "Nefertiti: A Beautiful Woman Has Come." Nefertiti was relatively young, likely in her early teens, when she married Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten). Together, they introduced monotheism, with the worship of the sun god Aten. As queen, the "King's Great Wife," Nefertiti bore 6 daughters during the span of their marriage: Meritaten, Meketaten, Ankhesenpaaten, Neferneferuaten, Neferneferture, Setepenre. What is best known of Nefertiti is her bust, believed to have been created by Thutmose who is thought to have been the official court sculptor.
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Works cited:
- Crawford, Amy. “Who Was Cleopatra?” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 31 Mar. 2007.
Jarus, Owen. - “Cleopatra: Facts & Biography.” LiveScience, Purch, 13 Mar. 2014.
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