Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII Philopator, born in 70/69 BCE, was the last queen of Ancient Egypt and a member of the Greek-speaking, Ptolemaic dynasty. She became queen on the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 BCE and ruled successively with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, and her son Ptolemy XV Caesar. Cleopatra is famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later as the wife of Mark Antony. She actively influenced Roman politics at a crucial period and came to represent the prototype of the romantic femme fatale. Despite her Macedonian descent, she was the only ruler of her dynasty who learned the Egyptian language and styled herself as the new Isis, a goddess in Egyptian mythology. She was known for her intelligence, charm, and diplomatic skills. Cleopatra’s reign ended with her tragic death in 30 BCE, after which Egypt fell under Roman domination. Despite the controversies surrounding her life and rule, Cleopatra remains one of the most well-known figures of the ancient world.