Where did Cleopatra live and who was she? Cleopatra - biography, information, personal life

In one of his studies, the American cultural theorist Harold Bloom noted that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII is the world's first celebrity. It’s hard to disagree with him, because no other woman managed to perform more vividly on the historical stage. Even the famous Nefertiti pales in comparison. With all this, the image of Cleopatra is shrouded in the fog of fiction, and sometimes dirty slander. What do historians say about this woman more than 2000 years after her death?

Bust of Cleopatra VII

The girl who was destined to become the last queen of Egypt was born in Alexandria in 69 BC. She became another representative of the famous dynasty founded by Ptolemy, a companion of Alexander the Great, who subsequently took possession of Egypt. Cleopatra's ancestors ruled Egypt for about three centuries, during which time they became famous for incest and bloody feuds within the family.

The queen's father was Ptolemy XII Auletes ("Fluteist"), and her mother was Cleopatra V Tryphena. Both were Ptolemies, but it is still difficult for scientists to accurately determine the extent of their relationship. There is also a hypothesis according to which Cleopatra was the daughter of one of the concubines of Ptolemy XII.

Be that as it may, the birth of Cleopatra was not something remarkable. She became the third daughter in a family that had been expecting a son for a long time. She was given a name traditional for the Ptolemaic dynasty (the meaning of the name is “the glory of the father”), without expecting that she would stand out in any way among the string of her namesakes.

However, the future ruler of Egypt began to stand out among others from childhood. The first thing that distinguished her from other descendants of Ptolemy XII was her thirst for knowledge. Scientists suggest that Cleopatra during her life managed to master languages such as Greek, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Abyssinian, Parthian and, of course, Latin.

It is worth noting that Alexandria, where the princess grew up, was the intellectual capital of the then world. Despite her Greek origin, the princess was in awe of the history and culture of Egypt. Before her, none of the Ptolemies bothered to learn the Egyptian language.

Cleopatra's worldview was influenced not only by books, but also by brutal feuds in her own family: the overthrow of Ptolemy XII by her daughter Berenice and the subsequent murder of Berenice by her father. Later, she will not disdain any means on the way to power.

images on coins

Beginning of the reign

Cleopatra received the kingdom according to her father's will; it was not for nothing that she was considered his favorite. According to the will of Ptolemy XII, Rome became the guarantor of the Egyptian state. The document also stated that the 18-year-old girl should become the wife of her brother, 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII, and rule the country with him. The royal couple ascended the throne in 51 BC.

But the actual rulers of Egypt are not Cleopatra and Ptolemy, but the so-called “Alexandrian trio,” which included the royal dignitaries Theodotus, Achilles and Pothinus. They manage to turn Cleopatra's younger brother against her. The queen is accused of wanting to rule alone, which was not far from the truth. As a result, she decides to flee to Syria for a while. Here she gathers an army that sets up camp near the Egyptian border. The army of Ptolemy XIII is ready to confront him.

Bust of Caesar from the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Julius Caesar and Cleopatra

The acquaintance of Cleopatra and Caesar was preceded by the treacherous murder of the Roman commander Gnaeus Pompey, arranged by Egyptian dignitaries. In this way, they hoped to earn Caesar's favor, but the great commander did not appreciate the “service.” When Pompey's head was presented to him, he turned away and began to cry.

At this time, Cleopatra received detailed information about everything that was happening in Alexandria. Having arrived in Egypt to collect his debts, Caesar declared that he was ready to become an arbiter in a dispute between the royal spouses. Soon he calls Cleopatra to his place. The Queen of Egypt appears before him suddenly and, importantly, impressively. According to one version, she arrived to Caesar wrapped in a carpet, according to another, she was secretly smuggled in a bed bag. An affair between the 53-year-old Roman consul and the 21-year-old queen breaks out that same night.

Why did she charm Caesar? This is perhaps the main question of her biography. The usual feminine charms were clearly not enough here. Most likely, he appreciated her intelligence, originality, courage and, as ancient authors say, the enchanting voice of an eastern ruler. In addition, in her person he could expect to receive a reliable Egyptian puppet. The morning after meeting Cleopatra, Caesar declares that sister and brother should rule together.

In response, Egyptian dignitaries proclaim the youngest daughter of Ptolemy XII Arsinoe as queen. A war begins, in which Caesar wins, Arsinoe is captured, and Ptolemy XIII dies. After this, the great Roman organizes the wedding of Cleopatra with her second brother, 16-year-old Ptolemy Neoteros. As a result, with the help of Rome, Cleopatra becomes the de facto sole ruler of Egypt. In 47 BC. The son of Caesar and Cleopatra is born - Ptolemy Caesarion. Caesar leaves Egypt, but soon enough calls Cleopatra to his place.

In Rome, the Egyptian queen was given Caesar's villa. Here she spends about two years. There was even a rumor that Caesar wanted to make an Egyptian his second wife. The great commander’s admiration for this woman greatly disturbed the Roman nobility and became another argument in favor of his liquidation. Caesar's murder forced Cleopatra to flee Rome.

Bust supposedly depicting Mark Antony

Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Shortly after Caesar's death, Queen Cleopatra's co-ruler, Ptolemy XIV, dies. There was a rumor that he would have been poisoned on the orders of his sister, who thus got rid of her future rival. In Rome, meanwhile, one of the prominent positions was occupied by Mark Antony, Caesar's comrade-in-arms. Without thinking twice, he decided to demand money from Cleopatra for a new military campaign.

The fateful meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra took place in 41 BC. in the city of Tarsus on board the queen's magnificently decorated ship. The Egyptian ruler appears before the amorous and vain Anthony in the image of the goddess Aphrodite. She invites the Roman for a sumptuous feast. As a result, Anthony selflessly falls in love with the queen. In the same year, with his hands, she gets rid of her sister Arsinoe, who is in Rome.

In an effort to be with Cleopatra, Anthony practically moves from Rome to the capital of Egypt. True, here he mainly indulges in drinking and entertainment. Soon the lovers have children, twins Alexander and Cleopatra. In 36 BC. Antony turns from Cleopatra's lover into her husband. The marriage takes place despite the fact that Anthony already had a legal wife. In Rome, this union begins to be viewed as a threat to the empire, especially after Mark Antony bestows Roman territories on his children from Cleopatra.

Antony's behavior leads Octavian to declare "war against the Egyptian queen." The culmination of this confrontation is the Battle of Actium, which took place in 31 BC. Its result is the complete defeat of the fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra. Modern historians believe that victory in this battle led Rome to world domination.

Death

In 30 BC. Octavian's troops entered Alexandria. At this time, Cleopatra, along with her trusted servants, locked herself in her own tomb. By mistake or intentionally, Anthony received false news of his beloved’s suicide, after which he threw himself on the sword. He died in Cleopatra's arms.

After the death of her husband, Cleopatra enters into negotiations with Octavian's envoy. Perhaps she still retained a faint hope of retaining the kingdom. Plutarch notes that a Roman officer in love with the queen warned her that Octavian wanted to lead her in chains during his triumph in Rome.

To avoid public humiliation, the Egyptian queen decides to commit suicide. Before this, she gives Octavian a letter asking him to bury her with Antony. Soon the ruler is found dead. Cleopatra died on August 12, 30 BC. in royal attire, reclining on a golden bed.

One of the possible causes of the queen’s death is said to be a snake bite; according to another version, it was a pre-prepared poison. The location of Cleopatra's tomb and her mummy have not yet been discovered. After the death of Cleopatra VII, Egypt became a Roman province.

Appearancelast queen of Egypt. This woman is usually associated with the image of a fatal beauty. But even by the standards of her time, she looked quite ordinary. Plutarch wrote that it can hardly be called “incomparable.” According to him, she was more impressive with her charm and persuasiveness of speech.

The portraits on the coins depict a woman with large eyes, a prominent chin and a long, hooked nose. The queen's height was no more than 152 cm, while she was plump and stocky.

Cleopatra's underwater palace. The proposed palace is located off the coast of Alexandria. The ruins of this ancient building were flooded as a result of an earthquake that occurred one and a half thousand years ago. Now it is located at a depth of 50 m. The possibility of creating an underwater museum on its territory is being discussed.

The fate of children. Cleopatra had four children. Son Caesarion from Julius Caesar and three children from Mark Antony - twins Cleopatra and Alexander, as well as son Ptolemy. The shortest story was the life of the queen's eldest son. He was killed by order of Octavian, and the twins and Ptolemy were given to Octavia, Octavian’s sister and Mark Antony’s ex-wife, to be raised. Cleopatra's only daughter was subsequently married to Yuba II, the ruler of Mauritania.

Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt, was born in Alexandria in 69 BC.
Cleopatra's father was Ptolemy XII Auletes. In total, he had six children: four daughters (Cleopatra VII was the third) and two sons, who later became Cleopatra’s husbands in turn.
The Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty was founded by Alexander the Great's general Ptolemy, who took over Egypt after the collapse of Alexander's empire.
Little is known about Cleopatra’s mother, and biographers only speculate that she could have been Queen Cleopatra V Tryphaena - it has been precisely established that she was the mother of Auletes’ eldest daughters. Tryphena disappeared in early 68 BC, and since bigamy was prohibited in the Hellenistic family, she was most likely the mother of the last queen of Egypt.
Cleopatra received a classical education, was brought up in the best Greek and Arabic traditions, and knew several languages.
51 BC - Ptolemy XII dies. In the will, the deceased ruler declares Rome the guarantor of the Egyptian state and asks the Roman people to take care of his family. The Roman commander Pompey was appointed executor of the will and guardian of the king's children. According to custom, eighteen-year-old Cleopatra must marry her brother, ten-year-old Ptolemy XIII, and rule Egypt with him.
In the very first years after the death of Ptolemy XII, the royal dignitaries became the de facto rulers of Egypt: the teacher of eloquence Theodotus, the eunuch Pothinus, the commander of the palace guards of Achilles. They manage to quarrel between Cleopatra and her brother-husband and provoke an uprising in Alexandria - it was announced to the people that Queen Cleopatra seeks to rule alone, and for this she will resort to the help of Rome. Cleopatra flees to Syria, dignitaries begin to rule on behalf of Ptolemy XIII.
48 BC - Cleopatra manages to gather an army on the border of Egypt and Arabia. She stands against her brother. The troops of Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII meet at Pelusium and are ready to begin battle at any moment.
At the same time, the Roman dictator Gaius Julius Caesar arrives in Alexandria. He declares that he has the right to resolve the conflict between brother and sister as a representative of Rome. Cleopatra understands that she needs to meet with Caesar. At night, she secretly arrives in Alexandria, accompanied by only a few servants. The queen orders herself to be wrapped in a carpet and taken to Caesar. The next day, Caesar publicly reads the will of Ptolemy Auletes and declares that Cleopatra and her brother should reign together.
47 BC - Pothinus and Achilla cannot come to terms with Caesar's decision. They raise an uprising (known as “Cleopatra’s War”) and secretly proclaim Ptolemy’s youngest daughter, Auletes Arsinoe, queen of Egypt. Caesar wins this war, Arsinoe is captured and subsequently flees Egypt to Rome. As a result of the uprising, Ptolemy, Pothinus, and Achilles die.
After his victory, Caesar forces Cleopatra to marry her second brother, 16-year-old Ptolemy Neoteros. Cleopatra agrees, but actually reigns in Egypt alone, relying on Rome. At the same time, the love affair of 52-year-old Caesar and Cleopatra from a secret becomes publicly known.
A few months later, a son is born to Cleopatra and Caesar, who receives the name Ptolemy-Caesarion. Caesar, who already has a family in Rome, is looking for the opportunity to also marry Cleopatra, making Caesarion his heir.
46 BC - Cleopatra, along with her husband, Caesarion and her retinue, moves to Rome and settles in one of the villas that belonged to Caesar. She is officially declared "a friend and ally of the Roman people."
44 BC – Julius Caesar is assassinated. Perhaps one of the reasons for his death was the suspicion of his desire to marry Cleopatra, establish a monarchy in Rome and subjugate Rome to Egypt. After Caesar's death, Cleopatra returns to Egypt.
43 BC - Cleopatra's husband Ptolemy XIV dies. There is a version that he was poisoned on the orders of his wife. Cleopatra declares the king and pharaoh of Egypt, as well as her co-ruler, her son, Ptolemy Caesarion Philopator and Philometer (the latter names mean “Loving Father” and “Loving Mother”).
After the assassination of Caesar, civil war begins in Rome. Cleopatra supports in her the followers of her beloved - the triumvirate of Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus. She sends Egyptian warships to help them, but this fleet was intercepted and went over to the enemy's side. The second fleet, sent by Cleopatra to support the triumvirate, sank.
42 BC - the triumvirate wins. The newly appointed ruler of the eastern part of Rome, Mark Antony, summons Cleopatra to give an explanation about the support of the enemy. Anthony also intends to make Egypt a dependent province of Rome.
41 BC - the meeting of Antony and Cleopatra takes place in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. Cleopatra deliberately delays this meeting for several months. She appears in Tarsus dressed as Aphrodite, on a magnificently decorated ship. Antony was received on Cleopatra's ship, and she acted as hostess. After the meeting, Cleopatra gave a sumptuous feast in Antony's honor. As a result, Antony falls madly in love with Cleopatra, and Egypt remains an independent state.
The same year - with the hands of Antony, Cleopatra gets rid of her enemies in Rome. On Antony's orders, her sister Arsinoe and several other rebels were executed. Soon Cleopatra and Anthony leave for Egypt.
40 BC - Anthony returns to Rome. In the same year, Cleopatra gives birth to twins, who are named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene.
39 BC - a rebellion against Cleopatra rises on one of the borders of Egypt. Her troops suppress this rebellion.
37 BC - at the request of Anthony, Cleopatra goes to Laodicea to provide food for his army. An indispensable condition for this trip was Antony's promise to marry Cleopatra. 36 BC - Antony fulfills his promise and marries Cleopatra. They have another son, named Ptolemy.
34 BC - Anthony conducts a successful military campaign in Armenia. The triumph is celebrated in Alexandria, where the winner bestows Cleopatra and all her children with new Roman territories.
32 BC - Rome is outraged by the distribution of Roman lands to the Egyptians. At this time, Anthony was fighting in Media (he dreamed of implementing the plan of Alexander the Great and becoming ruler of the lands from India to the Atlantic Ocean). Cleopatra comes to Anthony, she is ready to provide him with military support. Because of this, many allies turn away from the latter - the Egyptian queen did not enjoy special respect from the Romans.
September 2, 31 BC - the decisive battle of the war took place at sea near Cape Actium. Cleopatra and Antony's fleet is defeated. Antony returns to his legions, and Cleopatra returns to Alexandria to equip new troops.
Octavian negotiates with Cleopatra. She offers to give up the Egyptian throne in favor of her son Caesarion. Octavian is against. He demands that Cleopatra kill Antony - only then can he guarantee her life.
Antony loses the battle of Alexandria. He arrives at Cleopatra's palace, but on her orders he is informed that Cleopatra has died - the queen hoped that upon hearing this news, Anthony would commit suicide. The queen herself took refuge in her own tomb. In general, her calculation was justified, but Anthony’s suicide attempt ended with him being seriously wounded, and he died only some time later in the arms of his beloved.
After Antony's death, Cleopatra tries to starve herself to death, but Octavian threatens to kill her children, and Cleopatra is forced to continue living. August 30 BC - Cleopatra learns that she and her children will have to “decorate” Octavian’s triumph in Rome. This meant that they would be taken as prisoners in the triumphal procession.
August 31, 30 BC - Cleopatra decides to commit suicide. She writes a letter to Octavian in which she asks him to bury her next to Antony. After receiving the letter, Octavian immediately sends guards to Cleopatra's chambers, but it is too late - she and her two maids are already dead. Two wounds from a snake bite were found on Cleopatra's body, but there was no snake in the room. According to the most common version, the snake was brought to Cleopatra by her maids in a basket of figs. Cleopatra's mummy is now kept in London, in the British Museum.

Cleopatra VII Philopator (ancient Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ). Born November 2, 69 BC. - died August 12, 30 BC. The last queen of Hellenistic Egypt from the Macedonian Ptolemaic (Lagid) dynasty.

Cleopatra was born on November 2, 69 BC. e. (officially the 12th year of the reign of Ptolemy XII), apparently in Alexandria. She is one of the three (known) daughters of King Ptolemy XII Auletes, possibly by a concubine, since, as Strabo notes, this king had only one legitimate daughter, Berenice IV, queen in 58-55 BC. e.

Nothing is known about Cleopatra's childhood and youth. Undoubtedly, she was strongly impressed by the turmoil of 58-55, when her father was overthrown and expelled from Egypt, and his daughter (Cleopatra’s sister) Berenice became queen.

Restored to the throne by the forces of the Roman governor of Syria, Gabinius, Ptolemy XII rushes into massacres, repressions and murders (including Berenice).

As a result, he turns into a puppet, retained in power only by the Roman presence, which burdens the country's finances. The troubles of her father's reign taught her a lesson to the future queen, who used all means to get rid of her opponents and everyone standing in her way - such as her younger brother Ptolemy XIV in 44 BC. e. and later from the sister of Arsinoe IV.

Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt for 21 consecutive years in co-government with her brothers(they are traditionally formal husbands) Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, then in actual marriage with the Roman commander Mark Antony. She was the last independent ruler of Egypt before the Roman conquest and is often, although not entirely correctly, considered the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. She gained wide fame thanks to her love affair with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She had a son by Caesar and two sons and a daughter by Antony.

Sources on Cleopatra - Plutarch, Suetonius, Appian, Cassius Dio, Josephus.

For the most part, ancient historiography is unfavorable to her. There is an opinion that the denigration of Cleopatra was carried out by the conqueror of Egypt, Octavian and his entourage, who tried with all their might to denigrate the queen, presenting her as not just a dangerous enemy of Rome and the evil genius of Mark Antony. An example is the judgment about Cleopatra by a Roman historian of the 4th century. Aurelia Victor: “She was so depraved that she often prostituted herself, and had such beauty that many men paid with their death for the possession of her for one night.”

Testament of Ptolemy XII, who died in March 51 BC. e., transferred the throne to Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, who was then about 9 years old, and with whom she was united in a formal marriage, since, according to Ptolemaic custom, a woman could not reign on her own.

She ascended the throne under the official title Θέα Φιλοπάτωρ (Thea Philopator), that is, a goddess who loves her father (from an inscription on a stele from 51 BC). The first three years of the reign were not easy due to a 2-year crop failure caused by insufficient flooding of the Nile.

With the accession of the co-rulers, a hidden struggle of parties immediately began. Cleopatra first ruled alone, removing her young brother, but then the latter took revenge, relying on the eunuch Pothinus (who was something like the head of government), the commander Achilles and his tutor Theodotus (a rhetorician from Chios).

In a document dated October 27, 50 BC. e., the name of Ptolemy appears emphatically in the first place.

In the summer of 48 BC. e. Cleopatra, who fled to Syria and recruited an army there, at the head of this army set up a camp on the Egyptian border, not far from the fortress of Pelusium. Her brother also stationed himself there with the army, blocking her path into the country.

The turning point was the flight of the Roman senator Pompey to Egypt and his murder by Ptolemy's supporters.

Cleopatra and Caesar

At this moment Rome intervenes in the fight.

Pompey, defeated at Pharsalus, in early June 48 BC. e. appears off the Egyptian coast and asks the Egyptian king for help.

Young Ptolemy XIII, or rather his advisers, hoping to achieve generous favors from the victors, give the order to kill the Roman. This was accomplished as soon as Pompey set foot on Egyptian soil, in front of his entire entourage (July 28, 48). But the king miscalculated: Caesar, who, in pursuit of Pompey, landed in Egypt two days later, was angry at this reprisal and buried Pompey’s head near the walls of Alexandria, where he erected a sanctuary of Nemesis.

Once in Egypt, Caesar tried to replenish his treasury with the help of debts that Ptolemy XII had incurred on the Roman banker Rabirius during his efforts to restore the throne, and which Caesar now chalked up to his own account.

He writes that Caesar “did not dare” to turn Egypt into a Roman province, “so that some enterprising governor would not be able to rely on a province with enormous resources for new unrest.”

However, Caesar announced his intention to act as an arbiter in the dispute between the kings. Ptolemy XIII was the de facto ruler even without him, and also recognized by Pompey. Therefore, Caesar was interested in Cleopatra, who could become a puppet, owing power to him.

Soon after his arrival, he summons Cleopatra to his place in Alexandria. Penetrating into the capital, guarded by Ptolemy's people, was not an easy task - Cleopatra was helped to do this by her admirer, the Sicilian Apollodorus, who secretly smuggled the queen in a fishing boat, and then carried it into Caesar's chambers, hiding it in a large bed bag (and not in the carpet, as this is embellished in films, see Cleopatra's Carpet). From this fact we can draw a conclusion about the queen’s fragile physique. Throwing herself at the feet of the Roman dictator, Cleopatra began to complain bitterly about her oppressors, demanding the execution of Pothinus.

52-year-old Caesar was captivated by the young queen, especially since returning to the will of Ptolemy XII was in line with his own political interests. When the next morning Caesar announced this to the 13-year-old king, he ran out of the palace in a rage and, tearing off his diadem, began shouting to the assembled people that he had been betrayed. The crowd was outraged, but Caesar at that moment managed to calm it down by reading the king’s will.

However, the situation for Caesar became more complicated. The detachment accompanying him consisted of only 7 thousand soldiers; Supporters of the murdered Pompey gathered in Africa, and these circumstances aroused the hope of getting rid of Caesar in Ptolemy’s party.

Pothinus and Achilles called troops to Alexandria. The execution of Pothinus by Caesar could no longer stop the uprising. The troops, supported by the townspeople, outraged by the extortion and self-will of the Romans, received a leader when Ptolemy XIII and his sister Arsinoe fled to them. As a result, Caesar in September 48 BC. e. found himself besieged and cut off from reinforcements in the royal quarter of Alexandria. Caesar and Cleopatra were saved only by the approach of reinforcements led by Mithridates of Pergamon.

The rebels were defeated on January 15, 47 BC. e. near Lake Mareotia, while fleeing, King Ptolemy drowned in the Nile. Arsinoe was captured and was then carried out in Caesar's triumph.

This was followed by a joint journey of Caesar and Cleopatra along the Nile on 400 ships, accompanied by noisy festivities. Cleopatra, formally united with her other young brother Ptolemy XIV, actually became the undivided ruler of Egypt under the Roman protectorate, the guarantee of which was the three legions left in Egypt. Soon after Caesar's departure Cleopatra gives birth to a son on June 23, 47, who was named Ptolemy Caesar, but who went down in history under the nickname given to him by the Alexandrians Caesarion. It was argued that he looked a lot like Caesar both face and posture.

Caesar fought with the king of Pontus Pharnaces, then with the last supporters of Pompey in Africa; immediately after the end of the wars, he summons Cleopatra and her brother to Rome (summer of 46 BC), formally - to conclude an alliance between Rome and Egypt. Cleopatra was given Caesar's villa in his gardens on the banks of the Tiber, where she received noble Romans who were in a hurry to pay their respects to their favorite. This caused extreme irritation among the Republicans and became one of the reasons that accelerated the death of Caesar.

There was even a rumor (reported by Suetonius and indicative of the general mood) that Caesar was going to take Cleopatra as his second wife and move the capital to Alexandria. Caesar himself ordered a gilded statue of Cleopatra to be placed at the altar of Venus the Progenitor (Venus as the mythical ancestor of the Julian family to which he belonged). Nevertheless, Caesar's official will did not contain any mention of Caesarion, whom he thus did not dare recognize as his son.

Sovereign reign of Cleopatra

Caesar was killed as a result of a conspiracy on March 15, 44 BC. e. A month later, in mid-April, Cleopatra left Rome and arrived in Alexandria in July.

Shortly after this, 14-year-old Ptolemy XIV died. According to Josephus, he was poisoned by his sister: the birth of a son gave Cleopatra a formal co-ruler. In this situation, her growing brother was completely unnecessary to her.

In 43 BC. e. Famine struck Egypt and the Nile did not flood for two years in a row. The queen was primarily concerned with supplying her capital, which was prone to rebellion. The three Roman legions left by the late Caesar rampaged until their withdrawal.

The war between Caesar's murderers, Cassius and Brutus, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, his heirs Antony and Octavian, required resourcefulness from the queen.

The East was in the hands of Caesar's assassins: Brutus controlled Greece and Asia Minor, and Cassius settled in Syria. Cleopatra's governor in Cyprus, Serapion, helped Cassius with money and a fleet with the undoubted consent of the queen, no matter what feelings she had for the murderers of her Roman patron. She later formally renounced Serapion's actions. On the other hand, Cleopatra equipped the fleet supposedly, as she later assured, to help the Caesarians.

In 42 BC. e. The Republicans were defeated at Philippi. The situation immediately changed for Cleopatra.

Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Cleopatra was 28 years old when she died in 41 BC. e. met a 40-year-old Roman commander. It is known that Antony, as commander of the cavalry, participated in the restoration of Ptolemy XII to the throne in 55, but it is unlikely that they met at that time, although Appian cites a rumor that Antony became interested in 14-year-old Cleopatra during that period. They could have met during the queen's stay in Rome, but before meeting in 41, they apparently did not know each other well.

During the division of the Roman world, carried out after the defeat of the Republicans, Antony got the East. Anthony decides to implement Caesar's project - a big campaign against the Parthians. Preparing for the campaign, he sends the officer Quintus Dellius to Alexandria to demand Cleopatra to come to Cilicia. He was going to accuse her of helping Caesar’s murderers, apparently hoping, under this pretext, to get as much money as possible from her for the campaign.

Cleopatra, having learned through Dellius about Antony's character and, above all, about his amorousness, vanity and love of external splendor, arrives on a ship with a gilded stern, purple sails and silvered oars; she herself was seated in the attire of Aphrodite, on both sides of her stood boys in the form of erotes with fans, and maids in the robes of nymphs steered the ship.

The ship moved along the Kidn River to the sounds of flutes and citharas, shrouded in incense smoke. She then invites Antony to her place for a sumptuous feast. Anthony was completely fascinated. The queen easily rejected the prepared accusations, saying that Serapion acted without her knowledge, and she herself equipped a fleet to help the Caesarians, but this fleet, unfortunately, was delayed by contrary winds. As a first show of courtesy to Cleopatra, Antony, at her request, ordered the immediate execution of her sister Arsinoe, who had sought refuge in the temple of Aphrodite at Ephesus.

Thus began a romance that lasted ten years, one of the most famous in history - even though we cannot judge what was the share of political calculation in relations with Antony that Cleopatra needed to carry out her plans. For his part, Anthony could only support his huge army with the help of Egyptian money.

Anthony, leaving the army, followed Cleopatra to Alexandria, where he spent the winter of 41-40. BC e., indulging in drinking and entertainment. For her part, Cleopatra tried to tie him as tightly as possible.

Plutarch says: “she played dice with him, drank together, hunted together, was among the spectators when he practiced with weapons, and at night, when he, in the dress of a slave, wandered and wandered around the city, stopping at the doors and windows of houses and showering her usual jokes on the owners - people of simple rank, Cleopatra was here next to Anthony, dressed to match him."

One day, Anthony, planning to amaze Cleopatra with his fishing skills, sent divers who constantly hooked him with a new “catch.” Cleopatra, quickly realizing this trick, for her part sent a diver who planted dried fish on Antony.

While they were having fun in this way, the Parthian prince Pacorus went on the offensive, as a result of which Rome lost Syria and the south of Asia Minor with Cilicia. Antigonus Mattathius, a prince hostile to the Romans from the Hasmonean (Maccabean) dynasty, was confirmed by the Parthians on the throne of Jerusalem. Mark Antony led a brief counter-offensive from Tyre, but was then forced to return to Rome, where, following a clash between his wife Fulvia and Octavian's supporters, a peace agreement was negotiated at Brundisium. The clashes were caused by the fault of Fulvia, who, according to Plutarch, hoped in this way to tear Antony away from Cleopatra.

At this time, Fulvia died, and Antony married Octavian's sister, Octavia. At the same time in 40 BC. e. Cleopatra in Alexandria gave birth to twins from Antony: a boy, Alexander Helios (“Sun”), and a girl, Cleopatra Selene (“Moon”).

For 3 years until the autumn of 37 BC. e. There is no information about the queen. Upon Anthony's return from Italy, the lovers meet in Antioch in the fall of 37, and from that moment a new stage in their politics and their love begins. Antony's legate Ventidius expelled the Parthians.

Anthony replaces the Parthian proteges with his own vassals or direct Roman rule. Thus, the famous Herod, with his support, becomes king of Judea. Something similar is happening in Galatia, Pontus and Cappadocia. Cleopatra directly benefits from all this, since her rights to Cyprus, which she actually owned, are confirmed, as well as to the cities of the Syrian and Cilician coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the kingdom of Chalkidice in present-day Lebanon.

Thus, Cleopatra managed to partially restore the power of the first Ptolemies.

Cleopatra ordered the new era of her reign to be counted from this moment in documents. She herself took the official title Θεα Νεωτερα Φιλοπατωρ Φιλοπατρις (Thea Neotera Philopator Philopatris), that is, “the younger goddess who loves her father and fatherland.” The title was intended for the annexed Syrians, who already had a queen (senior goddess) of Ptolemaic blood, Cleopatra Thea, in the 2nd century BC. e., the title also indicated, according to historians, the Macedonian roots of Cleopatra, which was a powerful argument for the Greek-Macedonian ruling class of Syria.

Children of Cleopatra and Mark Antony

In 37-36 BC. e. Anthony launched a campaign against the Parthians, which turned out to be a disaster, mainly due to the harsh winter in the mountains of Armenia and Media. Anthony himself barely escaped death.

Cleopatra remained in Alexandria, where in September 36 BC. e. gave birth to a third child from Anthony - Ptolemy Philadelphus. Rome began to view the union of Antony and Cleopatra as a threat to the empire and to Octavian personally. The latter, in the early spring of 35, sent his sister Octavia, Antony's legal wife and the mother of his two daughters - Antonia the Elder (future grandmother of Emperor Nero) and Antonia the Younger (future mother of Germanicus and Emperor Claudius) - so that she would join her husband.

However, as soon as she reached Athens, Antony ordered her to immediately return back. This happened with the participation of Cleopatra, who threatened Anthony with suicide if he accepted his wife.

Anthony wanted to take revenge for his defeat in the war with the Parthians: in 35 BC. e. he captured the king of Armenia Artavazd II, entered into an alliance with another Artavazd - the king of Media Atropatena and celebrated a triumph, but not in Rome, but in Alexandria with the participation of Cleopatra and their common children.

A little later, Caesarion received the title of king of kings. Alexander Helios was proclaimed king of Armenia and the lands beyond the Euphrates, Ptolemy Philadelphus received (nominally, since he was about 2 years old) Syria and Asia Minor, and, finally, Cleopatra Selene II received Cyrenaica.

Not all of the granted territories were under the real control of Anthony. Josephus claims that Cleopatra also demanded Judea from Antony, but was refused.

The news of the distribution of lands caused severe indignation in Rome; Anthony clearly broke with all Roman traditions and began to pretend to be a Hellenistic monarch.

Battle of Actium

Anthony still enjoyed considerable popularity in the Senate and army, but with his antics in the Eastern Hellenistic spirit, which challenged Roman norms and traditional ideas, he himself gave Octavian a weapon against himself.

By 32 BC. e. things came to a civil war. At the same time, Octavian proclaimed it a war of “the Roman people against the Egyptian queen.” The Egyptian woman, who enslaved the Roman commander with her charms, was portrayed as the focus of everything eastern, Hellenistic-royal, alien to Rome and “Roman virtues.”

On the part of Antony and Cleopatra, a fleet of 500 ships was prepared for the war, of which 200 were Egyptian. Antony waged the war sluggishly, indulging in feasts and celebrations together with Cleopatra in all passing Greek cities and giving Octavian time to organize an army and navy.

While Antony was gathering troops to the western coast of Greece, intending to cross to Italy, Octavian himself quickly crossed to Epirus and imposed a war on Antony on its territory.

Cleopatra's stay in Antony's camp, her constant intrigues against everyone in whom she saw her ill-wishers, served Antony a disservice, prompting many of his supporters to defect to the enemy. Characteristic is the story of Antony's ardent supporter Quintus Dellius, who was nevertheless forced to defect to Octavian because he was warned that Cleopatra was going to poison him for a joke that she considered offensive to herself.

The defectors informed Octavian about the contents of Antony's will; it was immediately removed from the Temple of Vesta and published. Anthony officially recognized Cleopatra as his wife, her sons as his legitimate children, and bequeathed to bury himself not in Rome, but in Alexandria next to Cleopatra. Anthony's will completely discredited him.

Octavian, who was not a major military leader, found in the person of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa a competent commander who successfully waged the war. Agrippa managed to drive the fleet of Antony and Cleopatra into the Ambracian Gulf and blocked it. Their troops began to feel the lack of food.

Cleopatra insisted on a sea breakthrough. At the military council, this opinion prevailed.

The result was the naval battle of Actium on September 2, 31 BC. e. When Cleopatra feared that victory was slipping away, she decided to flee with her entire fleet in an attempt to save something else. Anthony ran after her. His defeated fleet surrendered to Octavian, and after that the demoralized land army surrendered without a fight.

Death of Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Anthony returned to Egypt and did nothing to continue the fight against Octavian. However, he had no real resources left for this. He wasted his energy in drinking bouts and luxurious festivities, and announced, together with Cleopatra, the creation of the “Union of Suicide Squads,” whose members swore to die together. Their close associates had to enter into this union. Cleopatra tested poisons on prisoners, trying to find out which poison brought a faster and more painless death.

Cleopatra was concerned about saving Caesarion. She sent him to India, but he later returned to Egypt. At one time she herself was considering a plan to escape to India, but when she tried to transport the ships across the Suez Isthmus, they were burned by the Arabs. These plans had to be abandoned.

In the spring of 30 BC. e. Octavian marched on Egypt. Cleopatra tried to protect herself from treason with cruel measures: when the commandant of Pelusius Seleucus surrendered the fortress, she executed his wife and children. By the end of July, Octavian's troops appeared near Alexandria itself. The last units remaining with Anthony, one after another, went over to the winning side.

On August 1 it was all over. Cleopatra, with her trusted maids Irada and Charmion, locked herself in the building of her own tomb. Antony was given false news of her suicide. Anthony threw himself on his sword. Soon, dying, the women pulled him into the tomb, and he died in the arms of Cleopatra, who sobbed over him.

Cleopatra herself, holding a dagger in her hand, demonstrated her readiness for death, but entered into negotiations with Octavian’s envoy, allowing him to enter the tomb building and disarm her. Apparently, Cleopatra still retained a faint hope of seducing Octavian, or at least coming to an agreement with him, and retaining the kingdom. Octavian showed less amenability to women's charms than Caesar and Antony, and the charms of a woman in her thirties and a mother of four children may have weakened somewhat.

The last days of Cleopatra are described in detail by Plutarch from the memoirs of Olympus, her doctor. Octavian allowed Cleopatra to bury her lover; her own fate remained unclear. She said she was sick and made it clear that she would starve herself to death - but Octavian’s threats to deal with the children forced her to accept treatment.

A few days later, Caesar (Octavian) himself visited Cleopatra in order to somehow console her. She lay on the bed, depressed and dejected, and when Caesar appeared at the door, she jumped up in only her tunic and threw herself at his feet. Her hair, which had not been tidied up for a long time, hung in clumps, her face was wild, her voice trembled, her eyes were dull.

Octavian gave Cleopatra encouraging words and left.

Soon, the Roman officer Cornelius Dolabella, who was in love with Cleopatra, informed her that in three days she would be sent to Rome for the triumph of Octavian. Cleopatra ordered him to give him a letter written in advance and locked herself with the maids. Octavian received a letter in which he found complaints and a request to bury her with Antony, and immediately sent people. The messengers found Cleopatra dead, in royal attire, on a golden bed. Since a peasant with a pot of figs had previously approached Cleopatra without arousing suspicion among the guards, it was decided that a snake had been brought to Cleopatra in the pot.

It was claimed that two light bites were barely visible on Cleopatra’s hand. The snake itself was not found in the room, as if it had immediately crawled out of the palace.

According to another version, Cleopatra kept poison in a hollow head pin. This version is supported by the fact that both of Cleopatra's maids died with her. It is doubtful that one snake would kill three people at once. According to Dio Cassius, Octavian tried to revive Cleopatra with the help of the Psylli, an exotic tribe that knew how to suck out poison without harming itself.

The death of Cleopatra on August 12, 30, deprived Octavian of a brilliant captive at his triumph in Rome. In the triumphal procession they carried only her statue.

Caesar's adopted son Octavian executed Caesar's own son from Cleopatra, Ptolemy XV Caesarion, in the same year. Antony's children walked in chains at the triumphant parade, then were raised by Octavian's sister Octavia, Antony's wife, "in memory of her husband."

Subsequently, Cleopatra's daughter Cleopatra Selene II was married to the Moorish king Juba II, which is why the bust of Cleopatra from Cherchell appeared.

The fate of Alexander Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphus remained unknown. It is assumed that they died early.

Egypt became one of the Roman provinces.

Cleopatra's appearance

The true appearance of Cleopatra is not easy to discern due to the romantic flair surrounding her and numerous films; but there is no doubt that she had a sufficiently courageous and strong character to bother the Romans.

There are no reliable images that accurately, without idealization, would convey her physical appearance.

A damaged bust from Cherchell in Algiers (ancient city of Caesarea Mauritanian), created after the death of Cleopatra on the occasion of the marriage of Cleopatra Selene II, her daughter by Mark Antony, with the king of Mauretania Juba II, conveys the appearance of Cleopatra in her last years. Although this bust is sometimes attributed to Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of Cleopatra VII.

Cleopatra VII is credited with Hellenistic busts depicting young, attractive women with typically Greek faces, but the subjects of the bust are not clearly identified.

It is believed that busts depicting Cleopatra VII are kept in the Berlin Museum and the Vatican Museum, but the classical appearance makes one suspect that the image is idealized.

The profiles on the coins show a woman with wavy hair, large eyes, a prominent chin, and a hooked nose (hereditary Ptolemaic traits).

On the other hand, it is known that Cleopatra was distinguished by powerful charm and attractiveness, she used this well for seduction and, in addition, had a charming voice and a brilliant, sharp mind. As he writes, who saw portraits of Cleopatra: “For the beauty of this woman was not what is called incomparable and amazes at first sight, but her manner was distinguished by irresistible charm, and therefore her appearance, combined with the rare persuasiveness of her speeches, with the enormous charm that shone through in everyone word, in every movement, firmly embedded in the soul. The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her tongue was like a multi-stringed instrument, easily tuned to any mood, to any dialect."

While the Greeks generally neglected the education of daughters, even in royal families, Cleopatra clearly had a good education, which, when combined with her natural intelligence, produced excellent results.

Cleopatra became a true polyglot queen, speaking, in addition to her native Greek, Egyptian (the first of her dynasty made efforts to master it, perhaps only with the exception of Ptolemy VIII Physcon), Aramaic, Ethiopian, Persian, Hebrew and the language of the Berbers (the people who lived in southern Libya).

Her linguistic abilities did not bypass Latin, although enlightened Romans, such as Caesar, themselves were fluent in Greek.

Name Cleopatra - symbols, hieroglyphic spelling, transliteration

Cleopatra in the movies:

♦ Cleopatra (Cléopâtre, France, 1899) - silent black and white film, directed by Georges Méliès, in the role of Cleopatra, Jeanne D'Alcy;
♦ Cleopatra (Cléopâtre, France, 1910) - silent black and white film based on William Shakespeare’s play “Antony and Cleopatra”, directors: Henry Andreani and Ferdinand Zecca, in the role of Cleopatra Madeleine Roche;
♦ Cleopatra (Cleopatra, USA, 1912) - silent black and white film, directed by Charles L. Gaskill, starring Helen Gardner as Cleopatra;
♦ Cleopatra (Cleopatra, USA, 1917) - silent black and white film, directed by J. Gordon Edwards, starring Ted Bahr as Cleopatra, the film is considered lost;
♦ Cleopatra (film, 1934) - Oscar nominee, in the role of Claudette Colbert;
♦ Caesar and Cleopatra (film, 1945) - in the role of ;
♦ Antony and Cleopatra (film, 1951) - in the role of Pauline Letts;
♦ Two Nights with Cleopatra (film) (1953) - in the role of ;
♦ Cleopatra (film, 1963) - Oscar nominee, in the role of Cleopatra Elizabeth Taylor;
♦ I, Cleopatra and Antony (film) (1966) - in the role of Stavras Paravas;
♦ Cleopatra's Legions (1959) - as Linda Crystal;
♦ Asterix and Cleopatra (cartoon, 1968) - voiced Cleopatra by Micheline Dax;
♦ Antony and Cleopatra (film, 1974) - in the role of Janet Sazman;
♦ Caesar and Cleopatra (1979) - in the role of ;
♦ Crazy Nights of Cleopatra (film) (1996) - as Marcella Petrelli;
♦ Cleopatra (film, 1999) - in the role of Leonor Varela;
♦ Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (film, 2002) - played the role of Cleopatra;
♦ Julius Caesar (film, 2002) - the role of Cleopatra was performed by Samuela Sardo;
♦ Roman Empire. August (film) (2003) - as Anna Valle;
♦ Rome (2005-2007) - HBO/BBC television drama, in the role of Cleopatra Lindsay Marshall

Cleopatra in art:

Poems “Cleopatra” (Pushkin, Bryusov, Blok, Akhmatova);
Alexander Pushkin “Egyptian Nights”;
William Shakespeare "Antony and Cleopatra";
Bernard Shaw "Caesar and Cleopatra";
Georg Ebers "Cleopatra";
Henry Rider Haggard "Cleopatra"
Margaret George's The Cleopatra Diaries (1997);
Davtyan Larisa. "Cleopatra" (poetic cycle);
A. Vladimirov “Cleopatra’s Rule” (musical drama);
Maria Hadley. "Queen of Queens";
N. Pavlishcheva. "Cleopatra";
Théophile Gautier "The Night Given by Cleopatra"

Cleopatra VII Philopator is an Egyptian queen, whose biography is still discussed to this day. Not being attractive in appearance, Cleopatra managed to gain the attention of two great Roman commanders - and. This love triangle has found its echoes in many books and films: directors make films, and writers talk about the image of this femme fatale on the pages of their works.

Childhood and youth

Cleopatra was born on November 2, 69 BC. The true place of birth still remains a mystery, but it is generally accepted that her homeland is the cultural center of the ancient world, Alexandria. Contrary to popular belief, the queen did not have a drop of Egyptian blood and came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by the Diadochi Ptolemy I, and therefore had Greek roots.

Almost nothing is known about Cleopatra’s childhood and youth. But it is worth assuming that the future ruler voraciously read books in the Library of Alexandria and studied music, since she knew how to reason philosophically, think logically, played various instruments and knew eight foreign languages.

This is surprising because in those days the Greeks did not care about the education of children, especially girls. For example, her sister Berenice was of a completely opposite nature: she loved entertainment, was quite lazy and thoughtless. In 58-55 BC. Cleopatra had to watch as her father Ptolemy XII Auletes was expelled from the country, and power was concentrated in the hands of his daughter Berenice (the ancient Greek historian Strabo noted that Berenice was the only legitimate daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, so there is an opinion that Cleopatra was born from a concubine).

Later, by the forces of the Romans under the leadership of Aulus Gabinius, the king again ascended the throne of Egypt. However, he could not skillfully use power, so repression, delinquent behavior in society and brutal murders spread under him. Thus, Ptolemy subsequently became a puppet controlled by Roman governors. Of course, these events left an imprint on Cleopatra’s mind: later the girl recalled the reckless reign of her father, who remained in her memory as the person whose mistakes she needed to learn from.

Rule of Egypt

After Ptolemy XII Auletes returned what was rightfully his, the heiress Berenice was beheaded. After the death of the king, according to tradition, which called for preserving the divine blood of the royal families, 17 (18) year old Cleopatra married her 9 (10) year old brother Ptolemy XIII and began to rule Egypt. True, formally, since she could only have full power cyclically: in ancient times, girls were destined for a secondary role. She ascended the throne as Thea Philopator, which meant "goddess who loves the father."

It is worth saying that Egypt was desired by the Romans, despite the fact that 96% of the territory in this country is occupied by deserts. But the valleys - the treasure troves of the Nile civilization - are famous for their exceptional fertility. Therefore, during the reign of Cleopatra, one of the most powerful empires - the Roman - laid claim to the territory of Egypt: some of the outer regions of Ta-kemet belonged to the Romans, but the country itself was not completely conquered. Therefore, Egypt (also due to financial debts) turned into a dependent state.

The first years of her reign turned out to be difficult for Cleopatra, because there was not enough food in the country: an insufficient flood of the Nile provoked a two-year crop failure. In addition, the battle for the throne began - internecine wars between brother and sister. Initially, the queen removed her husband and ruled the country alone, but, becoming older, Ptolemy XIII did not accept the arbitrariness of his relative and, relying on his tutor Pothin, who was also the regent and de facto ruler, organized a rebellion against Cleopatra. The people were told that the girl had stopped obeying the ruling trio of Pothinus, Theodatus and Achilles and wanted to overthrow her younger brother.

The queen fled to Syria and thus remained alive. Being an uninvited guest in the Middle East, the girl dreamed of returning full power. Around the same time, the dictator and ancient Roman commander Gaius Julius Caesar went to Alexandria in order to overtake his sworn enemy Pompey: defeated in the civil war (Battle of Pharsalus), Gnaeus fled to Egypt. However, Julius was unable to get even with his enemy personally, because when the emperor arrived in the Nile Valley, Pompey had already been killed.

Caesar had to stay in Alexandria due to weather conditions unfavorable for the long journey, so the ruler of Rome did not miss the opportunity to collect the accumulated debts of Ptolemy XII Auletes from his successor (ten million denarii). So Julius took part in the conflict between the comrades of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, hoping to benefit both himself and the Romans.

In turn, the queen needed to win Caesar’s trust, so, according to a beautiful legend, in order to win the commander over to her side, the resourceful girl secretly entered the Alexandria Palace: she wrapped herself in a carpet (or in a bed bag) and ordered her faithful slave to deliver a generous gift . Julius, fascinated by the beauty of the young queen, took her side.

But it is worth noting that the commander came to Egypt with a small army (3,200 warriors and 800 horsemen). Ptolemy XIII took advantage of this circumstance. Society supported the ruler, so Julius had to hide in the royal quarter, putting his life in danger. In winter, Julius Caesar again invaded Egypt and defeated the army of supporters of Ptolemy XIII, who drowned in the Nile. Therefore, Cleopatra again ascended the throne and ruled together with the young Ptolemy XIV.

Personal life

Legends are still made about Cleopatra's personal life. Thanks to the cinema, this ambitious girl was seen in the performances of (“Cleopatra” (1963)), (“Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002)) and other film actresses who played the ruler. Therefore, many believe that Cleopatra is a fatal beauty who seduced men with just one look. But, contrary to popular belief, the appearance of the Egyptian queen was rather mediocre.

What Cleopatra looked like is not known for certain. But one can judge from some statues and a bust from Cherchell in Algeria (there is an opinion that this bust belongs to Cleopatra’s daughter Selene II), as well as from the face depicted on coins, that the queen had a rather large nose and a narrow chin. But women's charms and intelligence helped Cleopatra make her faithful admirers out of men. She was not a noble person; sometimes cruelty could be traced in her character. For example, the queen often tested poisons on prisoners and watched them die in order to test the effect of a dangerous potion on the body.

It was rumored that Cleopatra was a loving girl. In fact, promiscuity between a man and a woman was not condemned in Rome and Ancient Egypt; kings and queens had several lovers and concubines. According to legend, madmen paid with their lives to share a bed with the Siren of the Nile: after a night with Cleopatra, their heads became trophies and were exhibited in the palace.

Beautiful legends are still made up about the relationship between the Egyptian queen and the Roman commander Julius Caesar. Indeed, it was love at first sight. For the sake of 21-year-old Cleopatra, the emperor forgot his mistress Servilia.

After defeating Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra and Caesar set off on a pleasure trip along the Nile, accompanied by 400 ships. June 23, 47 BC The lovers had a son, Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion). It can be said that because of his alliance with Cleopatra, Caesar brought disaster upon himself. The Egyptian queen, her brother and son arrived in Rome, surrounded by a large retinue. The girl was disliked because of her arrogance, so she was called the queen without adding a name (“I hate the queen,” Cicero wrote in his manuscript).

Those close to Caesar were sure that the dictator wanted to become the new pharaoh and make Alexandria the capital of Rome. The Romans did not like this turn of events, and for this and other reasons a conspiracy arose against Julius. March 15, 44 BC Caesar was killed. After the death of Julius, a civil war began between the Romans, in which Cleopatra did not intervene. Mark Antony was proclaimed ruler of the eastern territory of Rome.

The commander was going to accuse the queen of assisting against Caesar, but Cleopatra, knowing about Mark’s amorousness and vanity, acted with feminine cunning. She arrived on a gilded ship full of treasures dressed as Aphrodite and charmed the ancient Roman commander. Thus began a romance that lasted about ten years. In 40 BC. The lovers gave birth to twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. In the autumn of 36 BC. The third child, Ptolemy Philadelphus, was born.

Death

There are many fictions about the death of Cleopatra, so it is almost impossible to reconstruct this event with the greatest accuracy. The generally accepted version is the story that was presented. True, his version was later interpreted in their own way by writers, because Cleopatra’s biography provided background for romantic works. So, others wrote poems about the queen.

Octavian Augustus, the legitimate heir to the Roman throne, arrived in Rome in the spring. Local residents warmly received the young man, but the active army and admirers of Caesar stood on the side of Mark Antony. The Mutino War soon followed, from which Octavian emerged victorious. When Augustus moved towards Alexandria, Mark Antony was given false news about the death of the queen. Mark could not withstand such a tragedy, so he threw himself on his own sword. At that moment, Cleopatra and her maids locked themselves in the tomb; The wounded lover of the Egyptian seductress was taken there.

Mark died in the arms of a crying girl. The queen wanted to demonstratively stab herself with a dagger, but began negotiations with Octavian’s subject. The Siren of the Nile hoped to bribe Augustus with her charms in order to restore the state, but all attempts were in vain. After the death of her beloved, Cleopatra fell into depression, starved herself and did not get out of bed. Cornelius Dolabella informed the widow that she would be exiled to Rome for Octavian's triumph.

According to ancient Roman custom, Augustus, in honor of the victory over Egypt, was going to lead Cleopatra behind the triumphal chariot, chained like a slave. But the queen managed to avoid shame: in a pot of figs, which was delivered to the palace at the behest of Cleopatra, a snake was hidden - its bite gave the woman a quiet and painless death. The location of Cleopatra’s mummy is still unknown, but most likely, the queen and her lover Mark Antony are buried under the necropolis temple near Taposiris Magna (modern Abusir).

Ancient alchemists believed that Cleopatra was the owner of the philosopher's stone and could turn any metal into gold.
According to legend, the queen met with Mark Antony on Cleopatra Island, famous for its golden sand, which was brought there especially for the Egyptian seductress.

Cleopatra was fond of cosmetology. According to rumors, the queen bathed in a bath with milk and honey. She also made creams from a mixture of herbs and lard.
According to another version, Cleopatra was killed by poison, which she stored in a hollow head pin.

Memory

Movies:

Cleopatra (1934)
Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
Two Nights with Cleopatra (1954)
Legions of Cleopatra (1959)
Cleopatra (1963)
Discovery: Queens of Ancient Egypt (TV) (2000)
Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer (TV) (2009)

Books:

The Diaries of Cleopatra. Book 1: The Rise of a Queen (Margaret George)
Cleopatra (Karin Essex)
Cleopatra. The Last of the Ptolemies (Michael Grant)
Cleopatra's last passion. A new novel about the Queen of Love (Natalia Pavlishcheva)

Cleopatra VII (69 - 30 BC) - the last queen of Egypt, the most famous woman of the ancient era.

Queen-courtesan, evil genius of Egypt. Cunning, cruel, cowardly and treacherous, who built her well-being on the misfortunes of others, in the end she had to die, entangled in the networks of her own intrigues.

Intelligent and educated, Cleopatra is perhaps the most legendary woman in the world. Cleopatra mastered the rare art of charming people, and since the power was still in the hands of men, the Egyptian successfully used her talents in the field of love. Possessing beauty, passion and intelligence, she could be the second Semiramis. But, being a slave to her desires, she remained only a courtesan.

Cleopatra came from the remarkable Greek family of Ptolemies. The closest associate of Alexander the Great, his childhood friend Ptolemy I Soter (Savior), asked for Egypt, a beautiful land full of secrets, as a military reward. When his great ruler died, Ptolemy embalmed Alexander's corpse, departed for his kingdom and settled in Alexandria, named after the Macedonian. In Alexandria he gained fame as a wise, enlightened ruler.

In July 51 BC. The ruler of Egypt died, bequeathing the throne to his eldest children: the beautiful Cleopatra and thirteen-year-old Ptolemy-Dionysus. Following Egyptian custom, they immediately married each other.

Cleopatra grew up in the outstanding center of that time - Alexandria. Poetry, arts, and sciences found shelter in this city, and at the courts of the Egyptian kings there were quite a few outstanding poets and artists. The beauty received an excellent education and spoke several languages fluently, studied philosophy, was well acquainted with literature and played various instruments. She was an educated, intelligent girl who inherited a political mind from her ancestors. But at the same time, she had a voluptuous nature. To satisfy her desires, Cleopatra kept many handsome men. In those days it was not at all considered immoral.

Evidence from a contemporary has been preserved, who writes that Cleopatra appointed death at the cost of her love and that there were admirers who were not frightened by such a condition. For the night spent with the queen, the madmen paid with their lives, and their heads were exhibited in front of the temptress's palace!

After her marriage to the young Ptolemy XII, it seemed that power itself came to Cleopatra, but fate prepared an absurd incident for her. Young Ptolemy XII was raised by the eunuch Pofin, who dreamed that with the accession of his pupil he would become the main ruler of the country.

No reliable images of Clepatra have survived. There are several ancient busts of Cleopatra, the most reliable is the Algerian bust of Cleopatra, now located in the Berlin Museum of Antiquity, created after her death on the occasion of the wedding of Cleopatra’s daughter. Some scientists believe that this is a bust of Cleopatra herself in her last years, others believe that the bust does not depict Cleopatra, but her daughter. Images of Cleopatra have been preserved on coins cast during her reign, but it is difficult to say to what extent they reflect her actual appearance.

The ancient Greek historian Plutarch, who saw the portrait of Cleopatra, in the biography of Mark Antony describes Cleopatra’s appearance as follows: “the beauty of this woman was not what is called incomparable and amazes at first sight, but her manner was distinguished by irresistible charm, and therefore her appearance, combined with rare persuasiveness speeches, with enormous charm, visible in every word, in every movement, firmly engraved into the soul. The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her tongue was like a multi-stringed instrument, easily tuned to any mood, to any dialect, so that only She spoke with very few barbarians through an interpreter, and most often she herself talked with strangers - Ethiopians, troglodytes, Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Medes, Parthians... They say that she learned many languages, while the kings who ruled before her did not know even Egyptian, and some have forgotten Macedonian."

Bust of Cleopatra VII from Cherchell in Algiers (Berlin Antique Collection)

The Roman historian Sextus Aurelius Victor, who was negatively disposed towards Cleopatra, writes about her this way: “She was so depraved that she often prostituted herself, and had such beauty that many men paid with their death for possessing her for one night.” However, Roman sources describing Cleopatra should not be trusted, because Cleopatra in the eyes of the Romans was an enemy, and the ancient historiography of Cleopatra was inspired by Cleopatra’s conqueror, Emperor Octavian Augustus, who did not at all want to idealize her.

At first, Cleopatra ruled alone, removing her young brother, but then the latter gained revenge, relying on the eunuch Pothinus (who was something like the head of government) and the commander Achilles.

At this time, there was a civil war in the Roman Republic between Caesar and Pompey. Defeated, Pompey fled to Egypt, hoping to find support, but was killed by Ptolemy's entourage, who hoped to gain Caesar's favor. However, Caesar, having arrived in Egypt, was angry at the reprisal against Pompey. Caesar decides to restore order in Egypt, torn apart by the strife between Cleopatra and her brother. Plutarch, in his biography of Caesar, describes the first meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra:
“Cleopatra, taking with her only one of her friends, Apollodorus of Sicily, got into a small boat and, at nightfall, landed near the royal palace. Since it was otherwise difficult to remain unnoticed, she climbed into a bed bag and stretched out in it to her full length. "Apollodorus tied the bag with a belt and carried it through the courtyard to Caesar. They say that this very cunning of Cleopatra seemed bold to Caesar and captivated him. Finally conquered by Cleopatra's courtesy and her beauty, he reconciled her with the king so that they would reign together."

A rebellion began against Caesar in Egypt, which Caesar managed to suppress. King Ptolemy died. Cleopatra, formally united with her other young brother Ptolemy XIV, actually became the undivided ruler of Egypt under the Roman protectorate, the guarantee of which was the three legions left in Egypt.
Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Caesar, who was named Caesarion.

In the summer of 46 BC. Caesar summons Cleopatra to Rome (formally, to conclude an alliance between Rome and Egypt). Cleopatra was given Caesar's villa in his gardens on the banks of the Tiber. There was even a rumor that Caesar was going to take Cleopatra as his second wife and move the capital to Alexandria. Caesar himself ordered a gilded statue of Cleopatra to be placed at the altar of Venus the Progenitor (Venus as the mythical ancestor of the Julian family to which he belonged). However, Caesar did not dare to officially recognize Caesarion as his son.

Caesar was killed as a result of a conspiracy on March 15, 44 BC. e. A month later, in mid-April, Cleopatra left Rome and arrived in Alexandria in July. Shortly after this, 14-year-old Ptolemy XIV died. According to Josephus, he was poisoned by his sister: the birth of a son gave Cleopatra a formal co-ruler. In this situation, her growing brother was completely unnecessary to her.

A civil war began in Rome between Caesar's killers, Cassius and Brutus, on the one hand, and his heirs Antony and Octavian, on the other. Antony and Octavian won. During the division of the Roman world, carried out after the defeat of the Republicans, Antony got the East. Antony, planning a war with the Parthians, arrives in Egypt to secure Egyptian help. At the time of their meeting, Cleopatra was 29 years old, Antony was 40. The queen arrived at the meeting with Antony, according to Plutarch, “on a boat with a gilded stern, purple sails and silvered oars, which moved to the tune of a flute, harmoniously combined with the whistling of pipes and the clanking of citharas .

The queen rested under a canopy embroidered with gold in the headdress of Aphrodite, as painters depict her, and on both sides of the bed stood boys with fans - like Eros in paintings. In the same way, the most beautiful slaves were dressed as Nereids and Charites and stood some at the stern oars, some at the ropes. Wonderful incense rose from countless incense burners and spread along the banks."

Anthony was completely captivated by Cleopatra. Their romance lasted more than 10 years until their death. Cleopatra had three children with Antony.

By 32 BC. Relations between former allies - Antony and Octavian - finally turned from friendly to hostile. Anthony, who was carried away by Cleopatra and broke up with his official wife Octavia (sister of Octavian), who distributed Roman lands to the children of Cleopatra, began to look like a traitor in the eyes of the Romans. At the Battle of Actium on September 2, 31 BC. e. The fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra lost, the defeated returned to Egypt and tried to escape to India, but when they tried to drag the ships across the Suez Isthmus, they were burned by the Arabs. The escape plan had to be abandoned.

When Octavian reached Egypt, Antony committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Cleopatra tried to seduce Octavian or at least come to an agreement with him, but this time the charms of the 39-year-old queen were powerless. Octavian wanted to take Cleopatra as a prisoner to Rome to take part in his triumph, but Cleopatra committed suicide. This happened12 August 30 BC

According to the most common version, Cleopatra died from a snake bite, but the snake was not found in the room. According to another, more plausible version, Cleopatra was poisoned. This version is supported by the quick death of Cleopatra, the fact that shortly before her death she tested poisons on prisoners, and finally, the fact that two dead maids were found with Cleopatra (it is doubtful that one snake killed three people). Octavian tried unsuccessfully to revive Cleopatra with the help of the Psylli, an exotic tribe that knew how to suck out poison without harming itself.

Cleopatra was buried with honors, next to Anthony.

The death of Cleopatra deprived Octavian of a brilliant captive at his triumph in Rome. In the triumphal procession they carried only her statue.

Caesar's adopted son Octavian executed Caesar's own son from Cleopatra, Ptolemy XV Caesarion, in the same year.

Antony's children walked in chains at the triumphant parade, then were raised by Octavian's sister Octavia, Antony's wife, "in memory of her husband." Subsequently, Cleopatra's daughter, Cleopatra Selene II, was married to the Moorish king Juba II, which is why the bust of Cleopatra from Cherchell appeared.

Drawing of Cleopatra's mausoleum

The image of Cleopatra has been depicted many times in cinema. The most famous performer of the role of Cleopatra is Elizabeth Taylor, who left us on March 23. The film Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor was released in 1963.

Elizabeth Teylov's predecessors in playing the role of Cleopatra were no less famous actresses - Vivien Leigh (the film "Caesar and Cleopatra", 1945) and Sophia Loren (the film "Two Nights with Cleopatra", 1953).

Among the modern incarnations of Cleopatra in cinema, one can note, for example, Monica Bellucci in the film “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra”.

What was the secret?success of the queen of Egypt:

Mind games

Thinking through every detail of any situation, all your steps and tactics. It was not without reason that, of all the men of her time, she preferred Julius Caesar and was able to win him with her courage and unusualness.

Games of love

Cleopatra understood perfectly well that if a man is experienced in love, it is quite difficult to keep him for a long time; to do this, you need to constantly surprise him and show yourself from a new side.

Spouse Games

Thanks to distracting her beloved from anger and anger with all sorts of pleasant little things, Cleopatra knew how to avoid marital quarrels and scandals. Having married Antony, she was with her beloved man until the end of her life, despite all the obstacles, of which there were quite a few.

Games of fate

Everyone knows that Cleopatra, without fear, tempted fate and loved to take risks. Several times, canceling meetings with Anthony, she could easily lose him, but for the last meeting she prepared him a magnificent gift - an excellent ship.

Inimitable games

You can never imitate anyone, you must always remain yourself, as unique as you are. Cleopatra knew how to do this with special talent, as a result of which Antony forgot his Roman wife Octavia.

Deadly games

Do not be afraid of death - this is Cleopatra’s main motto. Realizing that she and Anthony were doomed, she thoroughly studied death from all known angles and decided to die with a viper bite.