Controversial Facts About Cleopatra

Although Cleopatra was successful in life, you must know that you shouldn’t do things how she did. What things did she do?

What She Looked Like

Historians don’t know for sure how Cleopatra really looked like. She is often portrayed with fair skin, dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes. Sometimes she is showed with blond hair, but only rarely. She is often represented on coins with a hooked nose.

Early Life

Cleopatra’s full name is Cleopatra VII Philopator and she was the daughter of Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt and Ptolemy XII Auletes. She was born in 69 B.C.E. in Alexandria, Egypt. People don’t know for sure about Cleopatra’s nationality. While it was believed that she had a Greek descent, some claim her to have an African background.

Family

You might think Cleopatra’s family is pretty weird. But back then it wasn’t. Cleopatra’s family liked to marry in their family to preserve the purity of their bloodline. Most people believe that Cleopatra’s parents were siblings. Her father’s name is Ptolemy XII Auletes, her mother’s name is Cleopatra V Of Egypt. She had four siblings, two sisters and two brothers. Their names are Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, Arsinoe IV Of Egypt, Ptolemy XIV Of Egypt, Berenice IV Of Egypt She had four husbands, Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, Ptolemy XIV, Mark Antony, and Julius Caesar. She had four children, Caesarion, Cleopatra Selene, Alexander Helios, Ptolemy Philadelphus.

Later Life

Cleopatra was handed down the throne at the age of 18, after the death of her father. She married both of her brothers. When she and Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, she fled to Syria, fearing her brother would kill her. At Syria, she made an army and fought for the throne. She had an affair with Julius Caesar and had a child, however, Julius died. She went back to Rome and dressed like a goddess. She and the emperor, Anthony, had an involvement and got 3 children over time. But a man called Octovian wanted Anthony’s power. Octovian started telling lies about Cleopatra, and people were starting to go against her. Finally Octovian started a war against Egypt. He captured Cleopatra but she escaped. However, Anthony thought she was dead so he killed himself. Fearing to return to Rome as a prisoner, she killed herself. She was involved in the murder of two of her siblings, one brother and one sister, to make sure she had the throne for herself and her son, Caesarion. Cleopatra’s older sister was executed after being accused of murdering their mother, in an attempt to take over the throne. Her younger brother died mysteriously after returning from a trip from Rome. Julius Caesar and Cleopatra killed Cleopatra’s older brother by drowning him in the Nile. Mark Anthony executed Cleopatra’s younger sister, following the instructions of Cleopatra.

Octovian wanted to avenge his great uncle’s (Julius Caesar) death, so he wanted Mark Anthony’s power. Octovian’s advantage was that Mark Anthony really liked Cleopatra so he said in his will if he were to die, his wealth and power would go to the children he had with Cleopatra and his body would be with Cleopatra. Hearing this, Rome declared war with Anthony and Egypt. Octavian won, got the power he wanted, and got all of Egypt’s treasures. Egypt also became a part of Rome.

Death

Nobody is really sure how Cleopatra died. What most say is that she let a poisonous asp bite her and she died. Some say she hid poison in a hollow comb she wore in hair.

My advice to you, be like Cleopatra. Be brave and smart. Why? Because Cleopatra was able to get two important Roman people on her side, and she successfully ruled Egypt for a long time. She was able to get the throne all to herself.