– (Mauricio Planel/)
What it was: Pharaoh
Where did you live: Egypt
When he was born and died: 69 BC- 30 BC
cleopatra 7a is a must-have name on any list of the most influential female figures in history. There are 30 in this issue, but there could be 20, ten or even five women, and she would still have to be cited. The reason is obvious: Egypt’s ruler remains influential more than 2,000 years after her death.
A single feat would already place her in any ranking: in the year 46 BC, the 23-year-old queen entered Rome, welcomed by the 54-year-old dictator Julius Caesar. A procession with a military band and exotic animals welcomed her, while a golden statue representing the foreign queen was placed inside the temple of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. She was then the most powerful woman who ever lived. Getting there had taken work.
TWO MARRIAGES
Daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy 12, cleopatra was 18 when he died. He left in his will the order that she reign alongside her 10-year-old brother Ptolemy 13. The Queen followed tradition and married her brother. But the boy’s guardians knew that the goal of cleopatra was to rule alone. Isolated, she ended up in exile. It could be the end, if the queen had not been able to approach Julius Caesar.
Egyptian by upbringing, Greek and Macedonian by descent, she spoke nine languages. She was sophisticated and seductive enough to attract the emperor. Caesar was in Alexandria and she had herself presented hidden in a rug: when it was unrolled at the emperor’s feet, there was the queen.
Caesar helped cleopatra to regain control over Alexandria, the capital of his country. She had to marry another brother, Ptolemy 14 (who would die of poison), but now she was the sole de facto ruler.
The next step was to try to save his nation from becoming a mere Roman colony. Staying as a guest of the Roman Emperor worked well for her to achieve her goal, but only for a while. When Caesar was assassinated, she ran back home.
SILVER OARS
In the power game that followed, the Egyptian positioned herself at the side of Mark Antony. It was the best bet: needy, womanizing, impetuous, he had better troops compared to his biggest opponent, General Otávio. He won Antony over by appearing to meet him at the stern of a golden boat, with oars made of silver. She was dressed like Venus and accompanied by boys dressed like Cupids.
As it turns out, Mark Antony rallied his troops in Syria, and Octavius carried out an effective sea blockade. Defeated, Antony ran after his beloved, who had fled to Egypt. Surrounded, he killed himself. cleopatra no. She even tried to seduce Otávio.
When she realized that the boy would not fall for her charms, the queen committed one of the most dramatic suicide gestures ever known: she allowed herself to be bitten by a small, poisonous asp snake. She was then 39 years old. Her country ended up controlled by the Romans. And Ptolemy 15, son of cleopatra 7th with Julius Caesar, was the last pharaoh.
YOUR GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS
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came to power
It took two brothers to marry, have others killed and seek support in Rome, but she became the sovereign of Egypt. -
controlled your image
cleopatra she was a master of marketing. Her every appearance was carefully planned. To compare herself to Isis, she dressed as if she were the goddess -
was brave
She lost Egypt to the Romans, but first she did everything in her power to become an ally, not a servant.
YOUR GREAT FAILURES
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risked too much
The strategy of supporting specific Rome leaders at a time of great political uncertainty proved tragic for Egypt. -
Ruled for few
Archaeological research indicates that, while the queen lived in great luxury, newborn children died of malnutrition and thirst. -
Abused the seduction
After Caesar and Mark Antony, he tried once more to resort to seduction. With Otávio, the weapon did not work
MOVIE TIP
cleopatra, from 1963, is full of historical inaccuracies. But Elizabeth Taylor lives up to the legend