Cleopatra Vii Essay Research Paper Cleopatra is

Cleopatra Vii Essay, Research Paper

Cleopatra is a throne name to many queens from Macedonia who ruled in Egypt. The most famous of these women was Cleopatra VII. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, King of Egypt. Cleopatra VII lived from 69-30 B.C. and reigned as queen of Egypt from 51-30 B.C. (Encyclopedia Encarta 99). Cleopatra is said to be far from beautiful, despite her glamorous image today. Her picture on ancient coins made her look like she had a long hooked nose and masculine features. She is also said to be very seductive with her enchanting musical voice and exuded charisma. She was also very intelligent and a great ruler. She spoke nine different languages. She was the only Ptolemy pharaoh who could actually speak Egyptian (Internet site, 2). The Ptolemy family had ruled Egypt since 305 B.C. After the death of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy I declared himself King of Egypt. The Ptolemy family was of Macedonian descent, but is said to be part Greek and part Iranian as well. Cleopatra s father s, Ptolemy XII, full name was Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Auletes which means flute-player in Greek. He began ruling in 80 B.C. and continued to rule until his death in 51 B.C. Cleopatra s mother is said to have been Cleopatra V Tryphaena, who either died or disappeared in 69 B.C. Cleopatra had two older sisters; Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV, and one younger sister, Arsinoe IV. She also had two younger brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, both of whom she had to marry. In 58 B.C. Berenice IV took over the kingdom forcing her father, Ptolemy XII, to flee to Rome. She ruled Egypt until he regained the throne and then in 55 B.C. he had her beheaded. Cleopatra s other sister disappeared sometime between 58-55 B.C. Ptolemy XII named CleopatraVII and Ptolemy XIII as heirs to the throne and when he died they took over. A rule established by Ptolemy II stated that you had to marry your sibling if ruling a country together. So Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII married, but strictly as a rule. Cleopatra VII was 18 and Ptolemy was only 10 when they were named King and Queen of Egypt in 51 B.C. (From now on Cleopatra VII will be Cleopatra). For the most part Cleopatra did most of the ruling. Meanwhile, Ptolemy served as a pet for his advisors. They would tell him what to do. Finally, three years after Cleopatra had ruled they advised him to take total control of the kingdom. He went with his advisors and Cleopatra was exiled. Outside of the walls of Alexandria, the port city of the kingdom, in Syria Cleopatra began to construct an army for her revenge. Meanwhile in Rome, Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great were fighting against each other in a civil war. Pompey was allies of the Egyptians and fled to Egypt to seek out help. Pothinus, one of Ptolemy s advisors, predicted that Caesar s victory was inevitable, and he told Ptolemy XIII to have Pompey beheaded in hopes that Caesar would take their side in the civil war between Cleopatra. So Ptolemy XIII had Pompey killed in front of his wife by Lucius Septmus, his servant at one time. Pothinus had Pompey s head saved for Julius Caesar to see when he arrived. When Caesar did arrive and they showed it to him, hoping that he would be pleased. However, they discovered that he was very disgusted. Pompey was once a friend, and he thought that the way he was brutally butchered in front of his family was very disrespectful (Internet site, 1). Outside the walls Cleopatra knew she had to tell Caesar what was really happening. She disguised herself, wrapped herself in a roll of carpet, and was carried into the castle. She knew that if anyone would catch her Ptolemy XIII would have her beheaded. She made it up to the room where Caesar was staying and when she fell out of the carpet piece it is said that Caesar fell in love with her charm. They stayed the night together (Internet site, 2). The next morning Caesar decided to call an audience. Ptolemy XIII was shocked to find Cleopatra at Caesar s side. He stormed out of the palace screaming that he had been betrayed. Then, Caesar had Ptolemy arrested, but Pharaoh s army attacked the palace. Thus began what was later called the Alexandrian War. The civil war between Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra had now turned into a war between Caesar and Ptolemy allied with Arsinoe IV. The war went on for six months. It ended when Pothinus was killed in a battle, and Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile River trying to escape. The city of Alexandria surrendered to Caesar. Caesar held Arisnoe captive and restored Cleopatra to the throne. Again she was forced to marry her other brother, Ptolemy XIV (Internet site, 2). After the war, Cleopatra showed Caesar every pleasure and luxury she had to offer. This two-month trip included a tour up the Nile River. Where it was said that she became pregnant. They would have sailed to Ethiopia if Caesar s troops had agreed to follow him. Roman historian, Suctonius wrote. After the cruise Caesar returned to Rome leaving behind three legions to look after Caesarian and Cleopatra. She gave birth to his son, Caesarion, or also known as Ptolemy XV. It was said that Caesar may not have been Caesarian s father, but Caesar claimed him as his. A year later Caesar invited them to Rome. The two were received with great honor in Rome and a golden statue was dedicated by Caesar to Cleopatra and placed in the temple of Venus Genetrix. Then, while Cleopatra, Ptolemy XIV, and Caesarian were in Rome, Caesar paraded