“When everything seemed lost, the heirs of the house of Ptolemy would suddenly have almost put within their grasp a dominion stretching not only over the lost ancestral lands, but over wider territories than Ptolemy I or Ptolemy II or Ptolemy III had ever dreamed of. Those kings, being men, had based their dominion on the power of their arms; but now, when the military power of Egypt would bring to the contest power of a wholly different kind-the power of a fascinating woman.”
E.R. Bevan, The House of Ptolemy
Foreword: Since there is no first-hand account of the history of Cleopatra VII, many of the details of her life remain a mystery. The lack of written evidence may be due in part to the fact that the Library of Alexandria in Egypt’s capital was burned down in 48 B.C.E. The stories surrounding Cleopatra’s exploits have been told and retold for centuries, and there are many conflicting versions. Muslim scholar accounts portray her as an intelligent benefactor, while Roman accounts tell of her treachery and corruption. Some sources speak of her unrivaled beauty while others describe her as manly and unattractive. …show more content…
The play sensationalized the story of the two lovers. Later, Hollywood would portray their story as a beautiful, glittering romance starring Elizabeth Taylor. Ultimately, none of the chronicles argue that she was ambitious in regard to her empire and used her appealing character to feed her desire for
E.R. Bevan, The House of Ptolemy
Foreword: Since there is no first-hand account of the history of Cleopatra VII, many of the details of her life remain a mystery. The lack of written evidence may be due in part to the fact that the Library of Alexandria in Egypt’s capital was burned down in 48 B.C.E. The stories surrounding Cleopatra’s exploits have been told and retold for centuries, and there are many conflicting versions. Muslim scholar accounts portray her as an intelligent benefactor, while Roman accounts tell of her treachery and corruption. Some sources speak of her unrivaled beauty while others describe her as manly and unattractive. …show more content…
The play sensationalized the story of the two lovers. Later, Hollywood would portray their story as a beautiful, glittering romance starring Elizabeth Taylor. Ultimately, none of the chronicles argue that she was ambitious in regard to her empire and used her appealing character to feed her desire for