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cleopatra
• Cleopatra VII g; 69 – August 12, 30 BC), known to history simply
as Cleopatra, was the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, only shortly
survived by her son, Caesarion as pharaoh.
• Cleopatra was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family
of Macedonian Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great’s
death during the Hellenistic period. The Ptolemie, throughout their
dynasty, spoke Greek and refused to speak Egyptian, which is the reason
that Greek as well as Egyptian languages were used on official court
documents such as the Rosetta Stone. By contrast, Cleopatra did learn to
speak Egyptian and represented herself as the reincarnation of an
Egyptian goddess, Isis.
• Cleopatra originally ruled jointly with her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, and
later with her brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV; whom she married
as per Egyptian custom, but eventually she became sole ruler. As pharaoh,
she consummated a liaison with Julius Caesar that solidified her grip on
the throne. She later elevated her son with Caesar, Caesarion, to co-ruler
in name.
After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, she aligned with Mark Antony in opposition to
Caesar's legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as Augustus). With
Antony, she bore the twins Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios, and another
son, Ptolemy Philadelphus (her unions with her brothers had produced no children).
After losing the Battle of Actium to Octavian's forces, Antony committed suicide.
Cleopatra followed suit, according to tradition killing herself by means of an asp bite
on August 12, 30 BC.] She was briefly outlived by Caesarion, who was declared
pharaoh by his supporters but soon killed on Octavian's orders. Egypt became
the Roman province of Aegyptus.
To this day, Cleopatra remains a popular figure in Western culture. Her legacy
survives in numerous works of art and the many dramatizations of her story in
literature and other media, including William Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and
Cleopatra, George Bernard Shaw's play Caesar and Cleopatra, Jules Massenet's
opera and the 1963 film Cleopatra staring Elizabeth Taylor.
Cleopatra facts
Cleopatra’s family
ruled Egypt for more
than 300 years
When Cleopatra was eighteen years old her father
died. He left the throne to both her and her younger
brother, Ptolemy VIII. Cleopatra and her ten-year-old
brother were married and were to rule Egypt as corulers.
The death of Cleopatra is shrouded with
mystery and romance. After fleeing to Egypt,
Marc Antony returned to the battlefield hoping
to recover and defeat Octavian. He soon
realized that he was going to be captured by
Octavian. Upon hearing the false news that
Cleopatra had died, Antony killed himself.
When Cleopatra heard that Antony was dead,
she became very sad. She killed herself by
allowing a poisonous cobra to bite her.
With Cleopatra's death, Octavian took control
of Egypt and it became part of the Roman
Empire. Her death brought an end to the
Ptolemy dynasty and the Egyptian Empire. She
was the last Pharaoh of Egypt.