William Shakespeare wrote about many significant individuals from the Roman empire. Included in these historical tales is Cleopatra VII, an infamous Egyptian pharaoh. WIth the help of her charm and intelligence, she played an important role in the history of the Roman empire. Her desire for power and wealth brought her into the lives of Julius Caesar, Octavian Caesar, and his right hand man, Mark Antony. As a woman in ancient Egypt, Cleopatra was determined have everything she could, even if it meant killing.
Contrary to popular belief, Cleopatra, meaning ‘glory of the father’, was not at all Egyptian. In 69 BC, she was born into the Macedonian Greek dynasty (or Ptolemaic dynasty) in Alexandria, Egypt. The dynasty ruled Egypt from the death …show more content…
At ten, Ptolemy XIII was a full eight years of age behind his sister, but they married to ensure rulership would stay within their family. Despite this, the duo would most likely have not been very affectionate towards each other, especially considering that Cleopatra was more focused on dominating in rulership. Life took a turn for the worse when a rivalry broke out between the siblings, resulting in Cleopatra’s expulsion from Alexandria to Syria by her brother’s orders. The next year, Julius Caesar of Rome was caught in a Civil war with Pompey the Great. Caesar arrived in Egypt in pursuit of Pompey but came to learn he had been killed, so he spent his idle time in Egypt. Cleopatra found out of Caesar’s arrival and developed an interest in him and what he had to offer: protection and power. She cleverly arranged to have herself rolled up in a carpet and delivered to the Roman at his headquarters where the sheer idea of her plan won him over. He, too, had ideas of personal gains from her: money and military. Following this, twenty-one year old Cleopatra became the mistress of fifty-two year old Julius Caesar in 47
Contrary to popular belief, Cleopatra, meaning ‘glory of the father’, was not at all Egyptian. In 69 BC, she was born into the Macedonian Greek dynasty (or Ptolemaic dynasty) in Alexandria, Egypt. The dynasty ruled Egypt from the death …show more content…
At ten, Ptolemy XIII was a full eight years of age behind his sister, but they married to ensure rulership would stay within their family. Despite this, the duo would most likely have not been very affectionate towards each other, especially considering that Cleopatra was more focused on dominating in rulership. Life took a turn for the worse when a rivalry broke out between the siblings, resulting in Cleopatra’s expulsion from Alexandria to Syria by her brother’s orders. The next year, Julius Caesar of Rome was caught in a Civil war with Pompey the Great. Caesar arrived in Egypt in pursuit of Pompey but came to learn he had been killed, so he spent his idle time in Egypt. Cleopatra found out of Caesar’s arrival and developed an interest in him and what he had to offer: protection and power. She cleverly arranged to have herself rolled up in a carpet and delivered to the Roman at his headquarters where the sheer idea of her plan won him over. He, too, had ideas of personal gains from her: money and military. Following this, twenty-one year old Cleopatra became the mistress of fifty-two year old Julius Caesar in 47