Early Life
Do you know who was the mooooooooooost powerful woman in the BC period – you got it! It is Cleopatra VII. She was born in 69 BC. She became the queen of Egypt when she was 18. As per the customs, she married her 10 year old brother Ptolemy XIII. He became the co-ruler of Egypt. Did you know Cleopatra’s family was not from Egypt? They are Greek. Her family ruled Egypt after Alexander’s death. Her family spoke Greek and not Egyptian. She was the only one in her family to learn Egyptian.
Cleopatra and Caesar
In Rome, Julius Caesar was the toughest and most powerful man. He was a Roman general who was having a civil was against Pompey. Pompey escaped to Egypt. When Caesar got to Egypt, Pompey was killed by Ptolemy and his body was shown to him. Caesar was not happy with that. Egypt was a rich place and Caesar made excuse to stay. At that time Ptolemy and Cleopatra was having a Civil war. Cleopatra heard about Caesar and so her supporters wrapped her in bedding roll (or a rug) and presented it to Caesar. When Caesar met Cleopatra, he thought she was very pretty and smart. Caesar was in his 50’s and Cleopatra was 20, but still Caesar never treated Cleopatra like a child but I hate to tell you this – they loved each other! But did they really? Some say Cleopatra wanted Caesar’s protection and Caesar was dazzled by Egypt’s richness. Cleopatra wanted to rule Egypt and asked Caesar to fight Ptolemy. Cleopatra become a “friend of Rome” and had a son with Caesar. Cleopatra went to Rome with her son. Some in Rome thought Caesar was betraying Rome and Cleopatra was using Caesar as bait for her to rule Egypt independently. Soon the Romans killed Caesar. Cleopatra returned to Egypt with her son after Caesar’s death.
Cleopatra and Marc Antony
Two Supporters of Caesar – Marc Antony and Caesar’s 19 year old grandnephew Octavius killed Caesar’s murderers. Marc Antony and Octavius become Roman leaders. Guess what? Cleopatra thought Antony was more powerful than Octavius and if she married Antony, She can rule Egypt with power independently. So Antony and Cleopatra married each other. She had three children (one twins) from Antony. Antony started spending a lot of time in Egypt. This angered Octavius and the Roman people. They thought she will use
Antony as bait as she did with Caesar. So Octavius fought with Antony and Cleopatra. In that battle, Antony and Cleopatra lost.
Death
After Antony lost the battle, he killed himself with the sword. Cleopatra begged Octavius for pardon. Octavius refused it and he
was determined to take Cleopatra to Rome and walk her in his Victory Parade. Cleopatra did not want to experience that. She took her life. Her death is still a mystery. Some say, she gave her hand to an asp (Egyptian Cobra), others say that she drank some poison. She was only 39 years old when she died.
Do you know who was the mooooooooooost powerful woman in the BC period – you got it! It is Cleopatra VII. She was born in 69 BC. She became the queen of Egypt when she was 18. As per the customs, she married her 10 year old brother Ptolemy XIII. He became the co-ruler of Egypt. Did you know Cleopatra’s family was not from Egypt? They are Greek. Her family ruled Egypt after Alexander’s death. Her family spoke Greek and not Egyptian. She was the only one in her family to learn Egyptian.
Cleopatra and Caesar
In Rome, Julius Caesar was the toughest and most powerful man. He was a Roman general who was having a civil was against Pompey. Pompey escaped to Egypt. When Caesar got to Egypt, Pompey was killed by Ptolemy and his body was shown to him. Caesar was not happy with that. Egypt was a rich place and Caesar made excuse to stay. At that time Ptolemy and Cleopatra was having a Civil war. Cleopatra heard about Caesar and so her supporters wrapped her in bedding roll (or a rug) and presented it to Caesar. When Caesar met Cleopatra, he thought she was very pretty and smart. Caesar was in his 50’s and Cleopatra was 20, but still Caesar never treated Cleopatra like a child but I hate to tell you this – they loved each other! But did they really? Some say Cleopatra wanted Caesar’s protection and Caesar was dazzled by Egypt’s richness. Cleopatra wanted to rule Egypt and asked Caesar to fight Ptolemy. Cleopatra become a “friend of Rome” and had a son with Caesar. Cleopatra went to Rome with her son. Some in Rome thought Caesar was betraying Rome and Cleopatra was using Caesar as bait for her to rule Egypt independently. Soon the Romans killed Caesar. Cleopatra returned to Egypt with her son after Caesar’s death.
Cleopatra and Marc Antony
Two Supporters of Caesar – Marc Antony and Caesar’s 19 year old grandnephew Octavius killed Caesar’s murderers. Marc Antony and Octavius become Roman leaders. Guess what? Cleopatra thought Antony was more powerful than Octavius and if she married Antony, She can rule Egypt with power independently. So Antony and Cleopatra married each other. She had three children (one twins) from Antony. Antony started spending a lot of time in Egypt. This angered Octavius and the Roman people. They thought she will use
Antony as bait as she did with Caesar. So Octavius fought with Antony and Cleopatra. In that battle, Antony and Cleopatra lost.
Death
After Antony lost the battle, he killed himself with the sword. Cleopatra begged Octavius for pardon. Octavius refused it and he
was determined to take Cleopatra to Rome and walk her in his Victory Parade. Cleopatra did not want to experience that. She took her life. Her death is still a mystery. Some say, she gave her hand to an asp (Egyptian Cobra), others say that she drank some poison. She was only 39 years old when she died.
Underwater Palace
Do you know what happened to Cleopatra’s palace? About 1600 Years ago, a tsunami occurred and her palace drowned. What happened next? A French team led by Franck Goddio found it in 1992. Now they are trying to set up an underwater museum for kids and people like us to see and learn about Cleopatra’s life and palace. I cannot wait for the first underwater museum to be opened.
Mystery
Researchers are still looking for the tomb where she was believed to be buried with Antony. Was she mummified? Who knows? Her life is not exactly written correctly as the Romans destroyed the writings of Egyptians and wrote their version which showed her as a cunning person. Hope her tomb will be found and all the mysteries solved.
Cleopatra in AD period
Do you know what happened to Cleopatra’s palace? About 1600 Years ago, a tsunami occurred and her palace drowned. What happened next? A French team led by Franck Goddio found it in 1992. Now they are trying to set up an underwater museum for kids and people like us to see and learn about Cleopatra’s life and palace. I cannot wait for the first underwater museum to be opened.
Mystery
Researchers are still looking for the tomb where she was believed to be buried with Antony. Was she mummified? Who knows? Her life is not exactly written correctly as the Romans destroyed the writings of Egyptians and wrote their version which showed her as a cunning person. Hope her tomb will be found and all the mysteries solved.
Cleopatra in AD period
William Shakespeare wrote a famous play called Antony and Cleopatra. A movie was made on her life called Cleopatra in 1960’s. Liz Taylor was the actress who did the role of Cleopatra. She was reaaaaaaaaaaaaally good. If you say Cleopatra to people, they will picture Liz Taylor in their mind. I googled for Cleopatra’s
images and found mostly Taylor’s pictures!!!!!! There is a costume called Cleopatra for Halloween. Maybe some of you want to be Queen Cleopatra for Halloween. Fascinating isn’t it?
Some say if Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter, the whole history would have been changed! I wonder if that was true, whether Ptolemy would have ruled as the King or Egypt would have become part of Roman Empire way before. Who knows? Queen Cleopatra – the last queen of Egypt – is still a mystery to be unveiled. One thing is for sure - 2000 years after death, Cleopatra still makes news!
images and found mostly Taylor’s pictures!!!!!! There is a costume called Cleopatra for Halloween. Maybe some of you want to be Queen Cleopatra for Halloween. Fascinating isn’t it?
Some say if Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter, the whole history would have been changed! I wonder if that was true, whether Ptolemy would have ruled as the King or Egypt would have become part of Roman Empire way before. Who knows? Queen Cleopatra – the last queen of Egypt – is still a mystery to be unveiled. One thing is for sure - 2000 years after death, Cleopatra still makes news!