Who was Cleopatra VII?

Born in Alexandria, then capital of Egypt in

69 BC

Parents: Father Pharaoh, Ptolemy XII, aka

Auletes or Flute Player and her mother
was probably Auletess sister Cleopatra V
Tryphaena (it was common place for
members of the Ptolemaic dynasty to
marry their sibilings)

Cleopatra had several siblings: elder sister,

Cleopatra VI; elder sister Berenice; younger
sister, Arsinoe and two younger brothers
both called Ptolemy.

Cleopatras family was not truly Egyptian,

they were Macedonian which is Greek.

Cleopatras Early Life

Cleopatras father dies in 51 BC

Cleopatra and her brother Ptolmey

XIII are left the throne.

Cleopatra was not particularly

beautiful but was very intelligent.

She spoke 9 languages including

Egyptian. She was the first Ptolemy
Pharoh every to speak Egyptian.

Cleopatra rules for 3 years on her

own until her brothers advisers exile
her to Syria .

Cleopatra and Julius Caesar

Cleopatra and Julius Caesar

While Cleopatra was in exile Julius Caesar was vying against

Pompey for control of the Roman Empire. Pompey went to
Alexandria to seek protection from Ptolemy, but his advisers found
it safer to side with Caesar.

Pompey arrived in Alexandria ahead of Caesar he was stabbed to

death while Ptolemy watched.

When Caesar arrived, Ptolemy thought it would please him to

present him with Pompeys head.

Caesar was not amused and immediately took control of the Palace.

He called for Ptolemy and Cleopatra to come together and he would

settle their dispute and restores Cleopatra to the Egyptian Throne.

Cleopatra and Julius Caesar

Immediately upon meeting her Caesar was

bewitched by her and they became lovers
that night.

Even though Caesar and Cleopatra were

lovers, she married her brother Ptolemy.
She was about 17 he was 12.

She later gave birth to a son Caesarion or

Little Caesar

In 44 BC Caesar was killed, Rome was in

turmoil and Cleopatra returned to Egypt
with her son. Her brother/husband died
shortly after their arrival, it is believed by
poisoned at her hands.

Mark Antony

Born Marcus Antonius in 83 BC in

Rome.

Father died at an early age, leaving

him and his brothers with his mother
Julia. He was 2nd cousin of Julius
Caesar.

With very little guidance, they were

considered rebels for their time.

By the age of 20 he was heavily in

debt and fled to Greece

After a short time studying in

Athens he became a member of
Caesars army.

Mark Antony

Mark Antony ultimately became

Caesars Master of the Horse, his
right hand man.

After Caesars death Mark Antony

set out for Egypt.

He wanted Cleopatra for Egypts

wealth and she wanted him for the
Roman Armies under his control.

Mark Antony was married 4 times.

His last marriage was to Octavia,

sister of Octavian who later Ruled
Rome and was known as Augustus

Antony and Cleopatra

They meet nearly 3 years after Julius Caesars death.

Antony Summons Cleopatra to Tarsus to discuss her possibly funding his enemies.

She arrives on a lavishly gilded barge with Purple sails and dressed as Venus.
Antony is so enthralled that he spends the winter in Alexandria and forgets about his
responsibilities.

6 months after Antony returns to Rome, Cleopatra gives birth to twins.

(http://www.Royalty.nu/Africa/Egypt/Cleopatra.html)

Antony and Cleopatra

They do not see each other for 4

years, once they reunite they remain
together and marry even though
Antony is still married to Octavia..

Cleopatra and Antony live a lavish

lifestyle and name themselves as
gods.

The people Rome are outraged by

their behavior and war is called on
Egypt.

When Octavian arrives the Egyptian

army joins forces with him.

Mark Antonys Death

After being defeated and felt of being betrayed by his consuming love for
Cleopatra, he falls on his sword and eventually dies on her bed.

After a royal burial for Mark Antony, Cleopatra was determined to die.

Cleopatras Death

Because she no longer

wanted to live, Octavian had
guards watching over her.
Being very clever she had an
Asp placed into a basket of
figs that was being
delivered.

She wrote a note to Octavian

begging to be buried in
Mark Antonys tomb.

By the time he received the

note and arrived she was
already gone

As she wished, she was

buried beside Mark Antony
and last Pharoh of Egypt
had reigned

Probably the most

Widely recognized
Portrayal of Cleopatra
Was by Elizabeth
Taylor
In 1963.

Shakespeares take on History

Antony and Cleopatra was very

historically correct concerning
most of the political battles that
occurred during the 10 year
period this was meant to portray.

Shakespeares primary source for

information was from Plutarchs
Lives of the Noble Grecians and
Romans, which was translated by
Sir Thomas North in 1579.

Many passages were quoted

directly from this text without
change.

Shakespeares Embellishments
Cleopatra was portrayed as very strong,

extremely beautiful and irresistible.

Octavius Caesar views the Pharaoh and Queen

of Egypt as little more than a dramatic whore.

Antony, while a Roman Hero was portrayed as

totally blinded by love .

Octavia is portrayed as a healer of sorts between

the two men, Antony and Octavius Caesar.

Characters
Mark

Antony Roman general and

one of the three joint leaders, or
"triumvirs", who rule the Roman
Republic after the assassination of
Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.
Octavius Caesar another triumvir
Lepidus another triumvir
Cleopatra Queen of Egypt