Caesarion is the son of Caesar and Cleopatra. Beautiful and impregnable Cleopatra: biography of the last queen of Egypt

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 in a row) and two sons, who later became Cleopatra's husbands in turn.
The Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty was founded by the commander of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy, who, after the collapse of Alexander's empire, took possession of Egypt.
Little is known about Cleopatra's mother, and biographers only suggest that Queen Cleopatra V Tryphena could be her - it is precisely established that she was the mother of the eldest daughters of Auletes. Tryphena disappeared at the beginning of 68 BC, and since bigamy was forbidden in the Hellenistic family, it was she who most likely was 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 their 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 sibling, ten-year-old Ptolemy XIII, and together with him govern Egypt.
The actual rulers of Egypt in the very first years after the death of Ptolemy XII are royal dignitaries: the teacher of eloquence Theodotus, the eunuch Potin, the commander of the palace guards of Achilles. They manage to quarrel Cleopatra with 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 raise an army on the border of Egypt and Arabia. She opposes her brother. The troops of Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII meet at Pelusium and are ready to start the 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 realizes that she needs to meet with Caesar. At night, she secretly arrives in Alexandria, accompanied by only a few servants. The queen orders 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 - Potinus and Achilles cannot come to terms with Caesar's decision. They raise an uprising (known as "Cleopatra's War"), secretly proclaim the Queen of Egypt youngest daughter Ptolemy Auletes Arsinoes. Caesar wins this war, Arsinoe is captured and subsequently flees from Egypt to Rome. As a result of the uprising, Ptolemy, Potin, and Achilles perish.
After the victory, Caesar forces Cleopatra to marry her second brother, 16-year-old Ptolemy Neotheros. Cleopatra agrees, but actually reigns in Egypt alone, relying on Rome. At the same time, the love affair of the 52-year-old Caesar and Cleopatra from a secret becomes well known.
A few months later, a son is born to Cleopatra and Caesar, who receives the name Ptolemy-Caesarion. Already having a family, Caesar in Rome is looking for an opportunity to marry Cleopatra, making Caesarion his heir.
46 BC - Cleopatra, along with her husband, Caesarion and 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 that he wanted to marry Cleopatra, establish a monarchy in Rome and subjugate Rome to Egypt. After the death of Caesar, Cleopatra returns to Egypt.
43 BC - Cleopatra's husband Ptolemy XIV dies. There is a version that he was poisoned by order 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 in Rome, Civil War. Cleopatra supports in her 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 side of the enemy. The second fleet sent by Cleopatra in support of the triumvirate sank.
42 BC - The triumvirate wins. The newly-minted ruler of the eastern part of Rome, Mark Antony, calls Cleopatra to him to give explanations about the support of the enemy. Antony also intends to make Egypt a dependent province of Rome.
41 BC - Antony and Cleopatra meet in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. Cleopatra deliberately delays this meeting for several months. She comes to Tarsus in the dress of Aphrodite, on a magnificently decorated ship. Antony was taken on board by Cleopatra, and she acted as hostess. After the meeting, Cleopatra gave a sumptuous feast in honor of Antony. As a result, Antony falls in love with Cleopatra without memory, and Egypt remains an independent state.
The same year - by the hands of Anthony Cleopatra gets rid of his enemies in Rome. By order of Antony, her sister Arsinoe and several other rebels were executed. Soon Cleopatra and Antony leave for Egypt.
40 BC - Antony returns to Rome. In the same year, Cleopatra gives birth to twins, who are called Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene.
39 BC - on one of the borders of Egypt, an uprising against Cleopatra rises. Her troops put down this rebellion.
37 BC - At the request of Antony, 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 victor grants Cleopatra and all her children new Roman territories.
32 BC - Rome is outraged by the distribution of Roman lands to the Egyptians. Anthony at this time is fighting in Media (he dreamed of implementing the plan of Alexander the Great and becoming the 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 at Cape Actions. The fleet of Cleopatra and Antony 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 vs. 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, having heard this news, Antony would commit suicide. The queen herself took refuge in her own tomb. In general, her calculation was justified, but Antony's suicide attempt ended in his severe injury, and he died only some time later in the arms of his beloved.
After Antony's death, Cleopatra attempts 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 in a triumphal procession they would be led as prisoners.
August 31, 30 BC - Cleopatra decides to commit suicide. She writes a letter to Octavian asking him to bury her next to Antony. After receiving the letter, Octavian immediately sends guards to Cleopatra's chambers, but too late - she and her two maids are already dead. Two snake bite wounds were found on Cleopatra's body, but there was no snake in the room. According to the most common version, maids brought the snake to Cleopatra in a basket of figs. The mummy of Cleopatra is now kept in London, in the British Museum.

Name Cleopatra shrouded in mysteries: her lovers are often said to have paid with their lives for possessing her for one night, her beauty is legendary, and her dramatic suicide still excites the minds of both romantics and historians. By the way, the death of the last queen of Hellenistic Egypt is a moot point. Until now, scientists doubt whether it really was suicide?

Cleopatra was born in 69 BC and spent her entire life in Alexandria. For more than three centuries, her family ruled Egypt. Cleopatra had an excellent education, spoke seven languages. Amazingly, among her ancestors there were no cases of suicide, but there were plenty of violent deaths. Perhaps it was this fact that made historians doubt the voluntary death of the queen.

According to historians, Cleopatra had an explosive temper, she was very cruel. So, at the age of 18, she married her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, but did not want to share the throne with him. Soon after Ptolemy matured and claimed his rights, Cleopatra turned to Julius Caesar for help to help her become the sole ruler of Egypt. Having entered into a formal marriage with another brother, Ptolemy XIV, Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Caesar, who received the name Caesarion. Having a formal co-ruler, the fearless queen poisoned Ptolemy XIV.

The turning point in the life of Cleopatra was the acquaintance with the Roman commander Mark Antony. The queen enchanted the Roman with her beauty, at her request he even executed Arsinia, sister Cleopatra (in those cruel times, such were the manifestations of sympathy). A few years after they met, Cleopatra gave birth to Mark Antony's son Alexander Helios ("The Sun") and daughter Cleopatra Selene ("Moon"). Happy life The lovers of the rulers did not last long: a civil war was imminent, in which Octavian spoke out against Mark Antony. According to historical records, after being defeated at the Battle of Actium, Mark Antony committed suicide when he received false news of Cleopatra's suicide. The queen herself followed his example a few days later.

According to the most common version, Cleopatra died from a snakebite, having handed over a suicide note to Octavian before that. Scientists suggest that the effect of the poison would take at least several hours, while the note was delivered to Octavian immediately and he could well have managed to save the queen.

More likely is the version that Octavian himself became the murderer of Cleopatra. Using the queen as a pawn to start a war with Mark Antony, who controlled the east of the Roman Empire, Octavian achieved desired result. To save Caesarion, Cleopatra sent him to Ethiopia, but Octavian found the heir to the throne and gave the order to kill him. On the way to the throne, Octavian was left with only Cleopatra.

According to recent research, Cleopatra could not have died from a snakebite, but from taking a poisonous cocktail. The Egyptians knew a lot about poisons, the mixture the queen took contained opium, aconite and hemlock. And today it is completely unclear whether the decision to poison himself was voluntary, or whether someone else was involved in this.

The mystery of Cleopatra's death has not yet been solved. Scientists can only speculate, because we can no longer return to the events that took place 2000 years ago. True, history ancient egypt reminds me from time to time. So, in 1992 it was. However, was this event also a grandiose hoax?

The name of Cleopatra is known to everyone - she was not only an outstanding ruler of Egypt, but also an amazing woman. More than two thousand years have passed since her death, but she is still remembered as one of the personalities who changed history.

Cleopatra was not a beauty either by the standards of Ancient Egypt or by modern canons. However, she managed to fall in love with two powerful Roman generals and completely subordinate them to her influence. She was an unusual woman and possessed an extraordinary intellect.

What else is Cleopatra remembered for?

Cleopatra has gone down in history as the most famous ruler of Egypt. But it is worth noting that she came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, who migrated from Greece during the reign of Alexander the Great. Thus, Cleopatra, although born in Egypt, was not an Egyptian at all, but a representative of an ancient Greek dynasty.
Who knows about other Cleopatras? Nobody! But the famous Egyptian queen was the seventh in a dynasty bearing the name of Cleopatra. Much is known about her father - he was the ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy XII. But the identity of the mother is still a mystery. There is a version that she was the half-sister of the king himself, since relationships and marriages between brothers and sisters in this dynasty were the norm. It is absolutely certain that Cleopatra was not the legitimate child of Ptolemy XII, since he officially recognized only one daughter - Berenice IV.
The name of Cleopatra, when she ascended the throne, sounded like this - Thea Philopator (Θέα Φιλοπάτωρ), which means "the goddess who loves her father." After she added to the title also "loving the fatherland" and became known as Fea Neotera Philopator Philopatris.

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Cleopatra had an extraordinary intellect and was (spoke in nine languages, at least). She was the only one of all the kings of her dynasty in 300 years who learned the Egyptian language. Prior to this, the Ptolemies spoke only Greek and did not bother to learn the language of the country in which they ruled and lived. In addition to Greek and Egyptian, she knew Hebrew, Ethiopian, Aramaic, Persian and even Latin.
In addition to linguistics, she also studied mathematics, astronomy, oratory and philosophy. The queen, again the only one of all her predecessors, adopted the religion and culture of Egypt. Prior to her reign, the Ptolemies were not interested in the gods and customs of their people.
She married her brothers, that was the law in those days. Despite her originality, Cleopatra could not rule alone, without a male co-ruler. Therefore, she had, like many of her predecessors, to marry first with one brother, and then with another. But she did not feel safe, as the brothers all the time wanted to take the throne from her. After their death, she gave birth to a son and secured a carefree future for herself, as she made the boy her co-ruler.
The younger brother of Cleopatra and her first legal husband did not want to put up with the power of her sister. Therefore, a war broke out between them, which forced the queen to flee to Syria. Ptolemy XIII made an alliance with Caesar, but took the wrong step and killed the noble Roman Pompey. This turned the Roman commander away from his brother, and Caesar turned his attention to Cleopatra. He helped the queen overthrow her brother and regain her throne.

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According to legend, Cleopatra snuck into Caesar's chambers wrapped in a carpet. The losing queen understood that she could change the balance of power only by personally meeting with Caesar. And she did not miscalculate - Caesar immediately became interested in her, although she was then 21 years old, and he was already 52.
According to rumors, Cleopatra is involved in the death of her brothers and sister. The first brother Ptolemy XIII drowned in the river during his flight, very fortunate for Cleopatra. Sister Arsinoe was executed by order of the queen on the steps of a Roman temple. And the younger brother died after poisoning at the age of 14. This was in the hands of Cleopatra, who at that time gave birth to a son and could make him a co-ruler. She did not need a growing brother who could encroach on her power.
Her arrival as Caesar's mistress in Rome was a triumph. She was hated, but imitated, the Romans began to style their hair like hers and weave pearl jewelry. She was in Rome at the time of her lover's murder and was forced to flee home to Egypt.
Cleopatra never got lost in the crowd. Her contemporaries noted the amazing charm and charm that the queen exuded. She took very good care of herself - she took milk baths, had a scrub, masks and shampoos made from egg yolks and honey in her arsenal. Cleopatra loved incense and picked up the aromas of oils for different purposes.

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Both of her novels were scandalous, because the men were already married and had heirs in Rome. However, after Caesar, Cleopatra easily fell in love with his successor, Mark Antony. For the first impression, she dressed up as Aphrodite and arrived on a ship that looked more like the abode of the gods. She became his mistress and faithful companion, hunted with him, drank wine and arranged feasts.
Mark Antony and Cleopatra had three children. The first to be born were twins, a girl and a boy, named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. In translation, their middle names mean "Sun" and "Moon".
The love between Mark Antony and Cleopatra led to the fact that in Rome the commander was considered a traitor. Octavian defeated the forces of the lovers in sea battle which led to their flight and fall. None of Cleopatra's children survived, and Caesar's son Caesarion was executed by his half-brother Octavian.
Mark Antony and Cleopatra, as agreed, committed suicide after the defeat. He threw himself on the sword, and she, according to assumptions, died from snake venom. Historians are still arguing how she managed to die in a locked room guarded by Octavian's warriors. It is worth noting that this is not the only mystery of her death. The tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony has not yet been found.

Cleopatra became the last queen of Egypt and a representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty. After her death, Egypt, which was ruled by the Greek kings but had freedom, became a Roman province. This amazing woman, who died at the age of 39, became a symbol of the fall of Egypt as the greatest civilization of the Ancient World.

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Caesar, very sophisticated in sex, could not be tied to one skirt for a long time. And Cleopatra did not shine with beauty. Her portrait: deep-set eyes, aquiline nose-beak, protruding chin. Of course, Cleopatra, like any oriental woman, knew a lot of erotic tricks, but they were not the main magnet...

There were other queens in the world with that name, but Cleopatra was only one. The last of the pharaohs. The first of the ladies-politicians. Diplomat. Polyglot. Mathematician. Beauty and the beast rolled into one.

She had everything she wanted - love, power, wealth, prestige. Because she knew the trick: the goal is easier to achieve if it is "deceived". Concentrate internally on the desired result, and externally behave relaxed. Like, I'm not acting seriously, but playfully! This is the method of "paradoxical intention". With the help of the game, Cleopatra could achieve a lot.

1. Mind games. In order not to let your life take its course, you need to build possible events in your head all the time, come up with intrigues, pronounce dialogues, and calculate steps. Cleopatra's path to the throne, which the young princess got at the age of 18, is an intricate chain of complex moves, as if thought out in advance. Her path to love, to the conception of the first son of Caesarion, is also the fruit of mental games. According to the dynastic rules of the Lagid family, Cleo-patra was to become the wife of her own younger brother. And she did, but formally. And actually figured out for myself best man of all that were available. Caesar. Cleopatra came up with a plan to win him over. How to get to a meeting with him, bypassing the cordons of enemies. How to instantly seduce him. And now she first appeared before Caesar, emerging from a bale of rags, which the servants brought and threw at his feet. It was both a disguise and an unusual joke. After all, the richest, most noble queen suddenly appeared from the trash and dust. The spoiled emperor did not yet have women with a sense of humor, and he could not resist.

2. Love games. To keep a real man, he must be surprised and interested every day. Caesar, very sophisticated in sex, could not be tied to one skirt for a long time. And Cleopatra did not shine with beauty. Her portrait: deep-set eyes, aquiline nose-beak, protruding chin. Of course, Cleopatra, like any oriental woman, knew a lot of erotic tricks, but they were not the main magnet. Every morning she woke up joyful, knew how to make Caesar laugh like no other. And intrigue. When Caesar was needed in Rome, the Egyptian took him on a joint journey along the Nile. How? She asked him riddles to which there was no answer. Where are the origins great river and what is the "mechanism" of its flood? And Caesar got caught again.

3. Marriage games. In marriage, you need to be able not to be exposed to scandal and always have a sweet "carrot" ready to distract your loved one. Cleopatra managed to marry Antony to herself. And this is with a living Roman wife, worthy and beautiful Octavia. Meanwhile, the commander either fell into despondency, or was unrestrained. When he was angry, Cleopatra disappeared from his eyes, which instantly brought him to his senses. And then she'd come back with some new pleasurable drug—a rare wine, an idea for a grand celebration. And Antony remained with Cleopatra until the end of his life.

4. Games with fate. Don't be afraid to tempt her. The queen of Egypt considered this very useful. Such tactics gave the highest pleasure - to take everything that the moment offers. When Antony called Cleopatra to the first meeting, so much needed by her, she postponed the rendezvous several times, risking that he would completely give up on her. But at this time, Cleopatra was secretly erecting a grandiose surprise ship. A huge ship made of precious wood scarlet sails, exuding a fantastic fragrance, sailed to Antony at dusk to the sounds of the most delicate music. When Antony came to his senses from the shock, twilight thickened, and a grandiose illumination was lit on the ship. The commander again intercepted

breath, and even before the negotiations, he realized which of the two of them was the main and great one.

5. Games in "inimitable". It is always worth striving to be unlike anyone and invent life events. The Egyptian woman lured Mark Antony to her in Alexandria just when the sea was closed to navigation. Anthony could not return to Rome. It was then that Klepa arranged for him a winter vacation. She created a circle of 12 close friends - the "Society of an inimitable way of life." These people tried to make every day so that no one could repeat it. Every morning and for the whole day, Cleopatra came up with pleasures - a real theater of pleasures with an hourly updated repertoire. Fascinated, Antony gradually forgot his Octavia.

6. Games with death. The fear of death poisons our days. In order not to be afraid of death, one must study it thoroughly, turn it on actor into a life show. One day it became clear that Cleopatra and Antony were doomed. But they still had time until the cruel Octavian came with his army to Alexandria. Then the queen disbanded the circle of "inimitable" and founded the "Society of jointly striving for death." Again from 12 members. The goal is to tame death, "cherish it like a domestic animal, feed it from your hand every day with your thoughts." Cleopatra arranged holidays in crypts, dissected corpses and embalmed them, with her with my own hands removing the entrails from the bodies. She studied the effect of poisons on the condemned. She thought through the scenario of her departure from the stage to the details and chose the most exotic way for suicide - the bite of a viper, which a faithful servant brought in a fig tree. Octavian was never able to shamefully lead the proud queen in chains through the streets of Alexandria.

When it comes to the greatest women in history, Cleopatra VII (69-30 BC) is always listed first. She was the mistress of the eastern Mediterranean. She managed to conquer two of the most influential men of her era. At one point, the future of the entire Western world was in the hands of Cleopatra.

How did the Egyptian queen achieve such success in just 39 years of her life? Moreover, in a world where men reigned supreme, and women were assigned a secondary role.

Conspiracy of silence: why is it difficult to give an unambiguous assessment of Cleopatra's personality?

None of the contemporaries of the great queen left her complete and detailed description. Sources that have survived to our time are scarce and tendentious.

The authors of the testimonies considered reliable did not live at the same time as Cleopatra. Plutarch was born 76 years after the death of the queen. Appian was separated from Cleopatra by one century, and Dion Cassius by two. And most importantly, most of the men writing about her had reasons to distort the facts.

Does that mean it's not even worth trying to find out true story Cleopatra? Definitely not! There are plenty of tools to help clear the image of the Egyptian queen from myths, gossip and clichés.

Video: Cleopatra - a woman legend

Origin and childhood

The library has replaced the mother for this girl who only had a father.

fran Irene "Cleopatra, or the Inimitable"

As a child, nothing indicated that Cleopatra could somehow surpass her predecessors who bore the same name. She was the second daughter of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy XII of the Lagid dynasty, founded by one of the commanders of Alexander the Great. Therefore, by blood, Cleopatra can rather be called a Macedonian than an Egyptian.

Almost nothing is known about Cleopatra's mother. According to one hypothesis, it was Cleopatra V Tryphena, the natural or half-sister of Ptolemy XII, according to another, the king's concubine.

The Lagids are one of the most scandalous dynasties, famous history. For more than 200 years of reign, not a single generation of this family has escaped incest and bloody internal strife. As a child, Cleopatra witnessed the overthrow of her father. The rebellion against Ptolemy XII was raised by the eldest daughter Berenice. When Ptolemy XII regained power, he executed Berenice. Later, Cleopatra will not shy away from any methods to keep the kingdom.

Cleopatra could not help but adopt the rigidity of her surroundings - but, among the representatives of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was distinguished by an incredible craving for knowledge. In Alexandria, there were all the possibilities for this. This city was the intellectual capital of the ancient world. Near the Ptolemaic palace was one of the largest libraries of antiquity.

The head of the Library of Alexandria was at the same time the educator of the heirs to the throne. The knowledge gained by the princess in childhood turned into a universal weapon that allowed Cleopatra not to get lost in a series of rulers from the Lagid dynasty.

According to Roman historians, Cleopatra spoke Greek, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Abyssinian and Parthian. She also learned the Egyptian language, which none of the Laghids had bothered to master before her. The princess was in awe of the culture of Egypt, and sincerely considered herself the incarnation of the goddess Isis.

Cleopatra's Rubicon: how did the disgraced queen come to power?

If knowledge is power, then even greater power is the ability to surprise.

Karin Essex "Cleopatra"

Cleopatra became queen thanks to her father's will. This happened in 51 BC. By that time, the princess was 18 years old.

According to the will, Cleopatra could receive the throne only by becoming the wife of her brother, 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII. However, the fulfillment of this condition by no means guaranteed that real power would be in her hands.

At that time, the actual rulers of the country were royal dignitaries, known as the “Alexandrian trio”. The conflict with them forced Cleopatra to flee to Syria. The fugitive gathered an army, which set up camp near the Egyptian border.

In the midst of a dynastic conflict, Julius Caesar arrives in Egypt. Arriving in the country of the Ptolemies for debts, the Roman commander declared that he was ready to resolve the political dispute that had arisen. Moreover, according to the will of Ptolemy XII, Rome became the guarantor of the Egyptian state.

Cleopatra is in extreme dangerous situation. The chances of dying at the hands of a brother and a mighty Roman were about the same.

As a result, the queen makes a very non-standard decision, which Plutarch describes as follows:

“She climbed into a bag for the bed ... Apollodorus tied the bag with a belt and brought it across the courtyard to Caesar ... This trick of Cleopatra seemed bold to Caesar - and captivated him.”

It would seem that it is impossible to surprise such an experienced warrior and politician as Caesar, but the young queen succeeded. One of the biographers of the ruler rightly noted that this act became her Rubicon, which gave Cleopatra the opportunity to get everything.

It is worth noting that Cleopatra did not come to the Roman consul for the sake of seduction: she fought for her life. The initial disposition of the commander towards her was explained not so much by her beauty, but by the Roman's distrust of the gang of local regents.

In addition, according to one of his contemporaries, Caesar was inclined to show mercy to the vanquished - especially if he was brave, eloquent and noble.

How did Cleopatra subdue two of the most powerful men of her era?

As for a talented commander there is no impregnable fortress, so for her there is no heart that she has not filled.

Henry Haggard "Cleopatra"

History knows a lot beautiful women, but few of them reached the level of Cleopatra, whose main advantage was clearly not appearance. Historians agree that she had a thin and flexible figure. Cleopatra had full lips, a hooked nose, a prominent chin, a high forehead and large eyes. The queen was a brunette with honey skin.

There are many legends about Cleopatra's beauty secrets. The most famous says that the Egyptian queen loved to take milk baths.

In reality, this practice was introduced by Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of Emperor Nero.

Plutarch gives a very interesting description of Cleopatra:

“The beauty of this woman was not that which is called incomparable and strikes at first sight, but her appeal was distinguished by irresistible charm, and therefore her appearance, combined with rare persuasiveness of speeches, with great charm, showing through in every word, in every movement, crashed into soul."

The way Cleopatra behaved with the male sex shows that she had an extraordinary mind and a subtle female instinct.

Consider how the relationship of the queen with the two main men of her life developed.

Union of Goddess and Genius

There is no evidence that a love affair between a 50-year-old Roman general and a 20-year-old queen began immediately after the first meeting. Most likely, the young queen did not even have sensory experience. However, Cleopatra quickly turned Caesar from judge to advocate. This was facilitated not only by her intelligence and charm, but also by the untold wealth that promised the consul an alliance with the queen. In her person, the Roman received a reliable Egyptian puppet.

After meeting with Cleopatra, Caesar told the Egyptian dignitaries that she should rule with her brother. Not wanting to put up with this, Cleopatra's political opponents start a war, as a result of which the queen's brother dies. The common struggle brings the young queen and the aging warrior closer together. No Roman went so far in supporting an outside ruler. In Egypt, Caesar first felt the taste of absolute power - and knew a woman unlike any of those whom he had met before.

Cleopatra becomes the sole ruler - despite the fact that she marries her second brother, 16-year-old Ptolemy Neoteros.

In 47 BC a child is born to the Roman consul and queen, who will be named Ptolemy-Caesarion. Caesar leaves Egypt, but very soon calls Cleopatra to follow him.

In Rome, the Egyptian queen spent 2 years. It was rumored that Caesar wanted to make her his second wife. The relationship of the great commander with Cleopatra greatly worried the Roman nobility - and became another argument in favor of his murder.

The death of Caesar forced Cleopatra to return home.

The story of Dionysus, who could not resist the charms of the East

After the death of Caesar, one of the prominent positions in Rome was taken by his associate Mark Antony. The whole East was under the rule of this Roman, so Cleopatra needed his location. While Antony needed money for the next military campaign. An inexperienced young girl appeared before Caesar, while Mark Antony was to see a woman at the zenith of beauty and power.

The queen did everything possible to make an unforgettable impression on Antony. Their meeting took place in 41 BC. on board a luxurious ship with scarlet sails. Cleopatra appeared before Antony as the goddess of love. Most researchers have no doubt that soon Antony truly fell in love with the queen.

In an effort to be close to his beloved, Anthony practically moved to Alexandria. His main occupation here was all kinds of entertainment. Like a true Dionysus, this man could not do without alcohol, noise and spectacular spectacles.

Soon the twins Alexander and Cleopatra are born to the couple, and in 36 BC. Anthony becomes the queen's official husband. And this despite the presence of a legal wife. In Rome, Antony's behavior was considered not only scandalous, but also dangerous, because he presented his beloved with Roman territories.

Antony's careless actions gave Caesar's nephew, Octavian, an excuse to declare "war against the Egyptian queen." The apogee of this conflict was the Battle of Actium (31 BC). The battle ended with the complete defeat of the fleet of Antony and Cleopatra.

Why did Cleopatra commit suicide?

Parting with life is easier than parting with glory.

William Shakespeare "Antony and Cleopatra"

In 30 BC. Octavian's troops captured Alexandria. The unfinished tomb served as a haven for Cleopatra at that time. By mistake - or maybe on purpose - Mark Antony, having received the news of the suicide of the queen, rushed to the sword. As a result, he died in the arms of his beloved.

Plutarch reports that a Roman in love with the queen warned Cleopatra that the new conqueror wants to spend her in shackles during his triumph. To avoid such humiliation, she decides to commit suicide.

August 12, 30 BC Cleopatra is found dead. She died on a golden bed with signs of pharaonic dignity in her hands.

According to a common version, the queen died from a snake bite, according to other sources, it was a pre-prepared poison.

The death of a rival greatly disappointed Octavian. According to Suetonius, he even sent special people to her body who were supposed to suck out the poison. Cleopatra managed not only to appear brightly on the historical stage, but also to leave it beautifully.

The death of Cleopatra VII marked the end of the Hellenistic era, and turned Egypt into a Roman province. Rome consolidated world domination.

The image of Cleopatra in the past and present

The posthumous life of Cleopatra turned out to be surprisingly eventful.

StaceySchiff "Cleopatra"

The image of Cleopatra has been actively replicated for more than two millennia. The Egyptian queen was sung by poets, writers, artists and filmmakers.

She was an asteroid computer game, a nightclub, a beauty salon, a slot machine - and even a brand of cigarettes.

The image of Cleopatra has become an eternal theme played up by representatives of the art world.

In painting

Despite the fact that it is not known for certain what Cleopatra looked like, hundreds of paintings are dedicated to her. This fact, probably, would have disappointed Cleopatra's main political rival, Octavian Augustus, who, after the death of the queen, ordered the destruction of all her images.

By the way, one of these images was found in Pompeii. It depicts Cleopatra together with her son Caesarion in the form of Venus and Cupid.

The Egyptian queen was painted by Raphael, Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt, Salvador Dali and dozens of other famous artists.

The most common was the plot "The Death of Cleopatra", depicting a naked or half-naked woman who brings a snake to her chest.

In literature

The most famous literary image of Cleopatra was created by William Shakespeare. His tragedy "Antony and Cleopatra" is based on the historical records of Plutarch. Shakespeare describes the Egyptian sovereign as a vicious priestess of love, who is "more beautiful than Venus herself." Shakespeare's Cleopatra lives by feelings, not by reason.

A slightly different image can be seen in the play "Caesar and Cleopatra" by Bernard Shaw. His Cleopatra is cruel, imperious, capricious, perfidious and ignorant. In Shaw's play, many historical facts. In particular, the relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra is purely platonic.

Russian poets did not bypass Cleopatra either. Separate poems were dedicated to her by Alexander Pushkin, Valery Bryusov, Alexander Blok and Anna Akhmatova. But even in them, the Egyptian queen appears far from being a positive character. For example, Pushkin used the legend according to which the tsarina executed her lovers after a night spent together. Such rumors were actively spread by some Roman authors.

To the cinema

It was thanks to the cinema that Cleopatra earned the fame of a fatal temptress. She was assigned the role of a dangerous woman, capable of driving any man crazy.

Due to the fact that the role of Cleopatra was usually played by recognized beauties, a myth arose about the unprecedented beauty of the Egyptian queen. But the famous ruler, most likely, did not possess even a modicum of beauty Vivien Leigh ("Caesar and Cleopatra", 1945), Sophia Loren ("Two Nights with Cleopatra", 1953), Elizabeth Taylor ("Cleopatra", 1963 .) or Monica Bellucci (“Asterix and Obelix: Mission of Cleopatra”, 2001).

The film about Cleopatra, filmed in 1963, became one of the most expensive in the history of cinema. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

The films in which the listed actresses played focus on the appearance and sensuality of the Egyptian queen. In the series Rome, filmed for the BBS and HBO channels, Cleopatra generally appears as a promiscuous drug addict.

A more realistic image can be seen in the 1999 Cleopatra mini-series. main role it was performed by Chilean actress Leonor Varela. The creators of the tape selected the actress based on the portrait resemblance.

The popular idea of Cleopatra has little to do with the true state of affairs. Rather, it is some collective image femme fatale, based on the fantasies and fears of men.

But Cleopatra fully confirmed that smart women are dangerous.