Antony invited Cleopatra to Tarsus, located in Asia Minor to discuss charges that she assisted his enemies. After a short delay to “heighten Antony’s expectation,” she traveled to Tarsus on a grand river barge (“Cleopatra VII” 377). Within a few weeks Antony and Cleopatra became lovers. Antony was forty-one, and Cleopatra was twenty-eight (Nardo 40). Antony followed Cleopatra back to Alexandria forgetting his wife Fulvia in Italy. Fulvia had formed an army against Octavius requiring Antony to leave Alexandria in 40 B.C. Cleopatra had recently given birth to twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene (Sinnigen 663). One year later Fulvia died, and Antony married Octavia, the sister of his co-ruler Octavian. Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship resumed in 37 B.C. when Antony summoned Cleopatra to Laodicea to supply his army with weaponry. He promised to marry her in return for her loyalty (Krapp 616). Antony was focusing all of his attention on Cleopatra and neglecting his affairs in Rome. Octavian took this opportunity to become the sole ruler of Rome by declaring war on Antony in 32 B.C. Cleopatra spread a false report that she had committed suicide which drove Antony to his death (Sinnigen 663). Cleopatra attempted to make peace with Octavian but failed. In despair, she killed herself by placing and asp, “a symbol of divine royalty” on herself (“Cleopatra VII”
Antony invited Cleopatra to Tarsus, located in Asia Minor to discuss charges that she assisted his enemies. After a short delay to “heighten Antony’s expectation,” she traveled to Tarsus on a grand river barge (“Cleopatra VII” 377). Within a few weeks Antony and Cleopatra became lovers. Antony was forty-one, and Cleopatra was twenty-eight (Nardo 40). Antony followed Cleopatra back to Alexandria forgetting his wife Fulvia in Italy. Fulvia had formed an army against Octavius requiring Antony to leave Alexandria in 40 B.C. Cleopatra had recently given birth to twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene (Sinnigen 663). One year later Fulvia died, and Antony married Octavia, the sister of his co-ruler Octavian. Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship resumed in 37 B.C. when Antony summoned Cleopatra to Laodicea to supply his army with weaponry. He promised to marry her in return for her loyalty (Krapp 616). Antony was focusing all of his attention on Cleopatra and neglecting his affairs in Rome. Octavian took this opportunity to become the sole ruler of Rome by declaring war on Antony in 32 B.C. Cleopatra spread a false report that she had committed suicide which drove Antony to his death (Sinnigen 663). Cleopatra attempted to make peace with Octavian but failed. In despair, she killed herself by placing and asp, “a symbol of divine royalty” on herself (“Cleopatra VII”