Femme fatale is defined as ‘an attractive and seductive woman … who will ultimately bring disaster to a man who becomes involved with her. ’ Prior to researching this woman with great historical influence, it was believed to me that this image was based on truth and evidence. Not all is certain now that I have assessed her life and significance. Much of what we know about Cleopatra was written after her death, when it was politically convenient to portray her as a threat to the city of Rome. This means that some of what we know, may have been exaggerated of misrepresented to falsely describe her as of a seductive and evil nature.
The Egyptian era began following the death of Alexander The Great, when his general Ptolemy, took over as ruler of Egypt, becoming King Ptolemy I. Cleopatra, daughter of King Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V of Egypt, was born in October 69 B. C. She is believed to be of Macedonian Greek decent or, black African, historians aren‘t quite sure. In 51 B. C Ptolemy died, leaving 18-year-old Cleopatra and her 10-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIII in charge of the throne. Cleopatra had five siblings, whom were all spoiled by their father. They attended the finest banquets and ceremonies and were provided with the finest food and clothing.
Ptolemy believed highly in importance of education, ensuring each child had their own tutors and private servants. Because of this, Cleopatra studied philosophy, literature, art, music, medicine, and was able to speak six different languages. These languages included Aramaic, Egyptian, Ethiopic, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Because she was very educated, she longed for power. Around the time when Cleopatra first tool to the throne, there was a civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey. Pompey eventually sought refuge in Egypt but was killed by Ptolemy.
The Term Paper on Cleopatra Ptolemy Xii 2
... have himself declared king. Soon after Caesar's death Cleopatra left Rome and returned to Egypt. Ptolemy XIV is thought to have survived the ... important city as well. Cleopatra VII's father was Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos 'Auletes', who began his rule of Egypt in 80 B. C. ... named Queen and King of Egypt in 51 B. C. Cleopatra did most of the ruling, and left Ptolemy XIII out of it. ...
It was here, that Cleopatra met Julius Caesar, who was 52-years-old and had followed Pompey in pursuit of his rival. He had already been married 3 times, and fell deeply in love with the queen of Egypt. Also during the war, her brother died and she married her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, who was 6-years-old. Cleopatra, in her relationship with Julius Caesar, had gained enough military muscle to dethrone her brother (husband) and become sole ruler. She did this, bringing peace and prosperity to a country which was torn apart by war and poverty stricken. Caesar was charmed by the youthful and intelligent woman, bringing her to Rome with him.
One historian states that ‘contrary to popular view, Cleopatra only allied with him because of shared political views rather than romantic love’. This supports the femme fatale image portrayed in popular culture. She gave birth to his son, Caesarion in 47B. C, although Caesar never publicly acknowledged the boy as his. Members of the Senate in Rome, disapproved of their relationship, partly because Cleopatra was a foreigner. ’Her (Cleopatra) way of walking…her clothes, her free way of talking, her embraces and kisses. Her beach-parties and dinner-parties, all show her to be a tart’ Cicero, Speech (c. 3 BC) Plutarch tried to explain why some men found her attractive. ‘Her actual beauty, it is said, was not in itself remarkable…but the attraction of her person, joining with the charm of her conversation…was something bewitching. It was a pleasure merely to hear the sound of her voice, with which, like an instrument of many strings, she could pass from one language to another, so that there were few of the nations that she needed an interpreter…which was all the more surprising because most of her predecessors, scarcely game themselves the trouble to acquire the Egyptian tongue’.
Plutarch, Mark Antony (c. AD 110) He also told that she did however, have to rely on her intelligence to get to the top of the power chain. The senators planned to assassinate Caesar, stabbing him from behind with a dagger. It was after this event that Cleopatra moved back to Egypt with her son where they became co-rulers. Then along came , Mark Antony, whom while he was in Egypt fell in love with the Queen, again reinforcing Cleopatra’s seductive nature. To her advantage, Cleopatra formed an alliance with Mark Antony and Rome, and then began their affair, producing three children. Antony was amazed at Cleopatra’s wit as well as her good looks, and became her captive as though he were a young man’ – Appian, The Civil Wars (c. AD 160) Antony was in battle with Caesars great nephew Octavian for control of Rome. Cleopatra influenced him to declare Caesarion as Caesar’s son, making him the legal heir. In the year 31 B. C, Cleopatra and Antony combined armies to defeat Octavian, however they had to flee back to Egypt. Antony returned to battle, where he was falsely informed Cleopatra had died. Hearing this news, he responded by committing suicide and Cleopatra ended her life by purposely being bitten by an Egyptian Cobra.
The Term Paper on Antony Cleopatra Octavius Caesar
... love with Cleopatra. Mark Antony (In-Depth Analysis) Cleopatra: The queen of Egypt and Antony's lover. A highly attractive woman who once seduced Julius Caesar, Cleopatra delights ... her truest, most un compromised self, is distinctly against Rome. In Antony and Cleopatra, honor seems less a function of Western or Eastern ...
The two were buried together, and Egypt became a province of Rome. To this day there is still some conspiracy surrounding her death. ‘According to one account, the asp was carried in to her with the figs and lay hidden under the leaves in the basket…baring her arm, she held it out to be bitten…But the real truth nobody knows, for there is another story that the carried poison about with her in a hollow comb…the asp was never discovered but some people say that two faint, barely visible punctures were found on Cleopatra’s arm’ Plutarch, Mark Antony (c. AD 110)
The story of Cleopatra has captivated historians, storytellers and the general public for centuries after her death. Her affair with Mark Antony became the inspiration for ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ (1607) a play by William Shakespeare. Novels have also been written, showing Cleopatra to be quite stunning, revealing her wit, her treachery, and her overwhelming presence. Set in the Ptolemaic era of Ancient Egyptian history was the novel Cleopatra, H. Rider Haggard (1889) and the later version Cleopatra, Jeffrey K. Gardner (1962).
This novel highlights that the way Cleopatra is viewed in popular culture, being described as, frank novel of a woman whose sensual appeal has never been equalled’ More recently her story has been made into multiple films in many different countries including, France, Japan, America and India. Genres including silent film, anime and short film. The most popular being the 1963 film staring Elizabeth Taylor. Cleopatra’s image has also been an inspiration for many of the worlds latest trends. Make-up artists and fashion designers gain their vision from the great Egyptian queen. Archaeological evidence gives historians the greatest knowledge of the life of Cleopatra as it is not from Roman primary sources, adding bias to the history.
The Term Paper on Mark Antony: A Study of the Person
Mark Antony is known to us through two chief mediums. The first is from the two plays of Shakespeare- ‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ where a romanticized and magnified version of his character is presented. The second comes from the historical analysis and commentaries of Plutarch who compares, contrasts and views all the actions of Mark Antony in back-drop his three contemporaries who ...
On Sunday April 19th 2009, Zahi Hawass revealed the first ancient artefacts with significance to the study of Cleopatra. He found 22 bronze coins, cast with Cleopatra’s image and name, amulets, a royal statue, a mask resembling Mark Antony and a statue bust of the ancient Egyptian Queen. On May 11th , 2010 it was published on englishpeople. com. cn that, ‘Archaeologists in Egypt believe they have discovered the burial place of Cleopatra and her lover, Mark Anthony. They found a columned entrance to a temple in Alexandria and think it may contain the remains of the famous and beautiful Egyptian Queen.
Excavation is now underway on a chamber where they may be entombed’ Today, archaeologists are still studying the site. Much of the remains of Cleopatra’s domain lye in the bay of Alexandria. Through combining the archaeological findings with written records from this time, historians can piece together the clues as to where Cleopatra and Mark Antony are buried. Experts believed they were buried in Alexandria, their tomb lost forever beneath the seabed. There are also ideas that she was buried outside the Roman boundaries in the temple at Taposiris Magna to keep the Romans from digging up her remains.
Her body is still yet to be found. In finding these artefacts Zahi Hawass stated that, ‘The finds from Taposiris reflect a charm … and indicate that Cleopatra was in no way unattractive’ Although the location of Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s bodies is still a mystery, the image of Cleopatra as a charming and seductive young lady remains the same. The lack of archaeological evidence does create a problem to the study, but the extensive amount of primary sources give us an insight as to what life was like during this time.
Contemporary historians, as part of Zahi Hawass’ team are still studying Cleopatra today. Through my assessment of the life and significance of Cleopatra, I have come to the conclusion that the historical Cleopatra does match the femme fatale image displayed in popular culture. The historical evidence told through the eyes of Ancient historians Plutarch, Cicero and Appian does agree with the modern portrayal of Cleopatra, for example, as seen in the Elizabeth Taylor film. All sources I have studied do show Cleopatra to be of a selfish and seductive nature, using men to gain political power for herself.
The Essay on Mark Antony Octavian Caesar Cleopatra
Marcus Antonius otherwise known as Mark Antony was born in 83 B. C. He was the son of Antonius Creticus and Julia who were related to Julius Caesar. Antonius Creticus, Antony's father was a rather unsuccessful admiral who died early in Antony's life. His mother Julia, remarried to P. Cornelius Lentulus who raised him for most of his childhood. In 63 B. C. , Lentulus was strangled on the orders of ...
