Cassius Dio Cleopatra

In Cassius Dio's passage regarding Cleopatra, he begins by describing her as 'a woman of surpassing beauty' and 'most striking', proceeding on throughout the extract to compliment her in such a way, until the end in which he suggests that she is manipulative and scheming, for she used a guise as well as using her 'schemes' to get her into the city, as well as into the palace by night without the knowledge or notice of Ptolemy. The majority of what Cassius says is, at face value, complimentary of how the Egyptian woman looks, rather than what she is like as a person, and persistently refers to her looks throughout the passage. It isn't until the last line of the passage in which Cassius suggests that everything done beforehand in regards to …show more content…
Augustus also seems to be very displeased by the woman, suggesting that Caesar was 'bewitched by that accursed woman', as well as 'being spurned and trampled on by a woman of Egypt'. Unlike Horace's Ode, Augustus does not seem to relent and reconsider his stand point on Cleopatra. Comparatively, neither Horace nor Augustus make any attempt to speak of her beauty, but rather of how she is in personality, with both coming to an agreement that she is some sort of 'enchantress'. However, Plutarch suggests that Cleopatra was provocative, which is also insinuated in Cassius' passage, as she would sneak into the palace at night, which suggests sexual undertones due to all the references made in the passage beforehand. Plutarch also suggests that the Queen of Egypt snuck into the palace, only, he states that she 'stretched herself out at the full length inside a sleeping bag' to do so, however, both Plutarch and Cassius both agree that Cleopatra used her 'provocative impudence' or 'beauty' to do so. In conclusion, both Cassius and Plutarch agree of her methods, but Horace and Augustus agree that she had bewitched Caesar as a means to an