Cleopatra :: History Biography Cleopatra Essays

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII was known for the love she had of her country, a love so great that would lead her to any means necessary for the good of it. She was born into a Macedonian family who had power and rule over Egypt. They were descended from Ptolemy I, a general of Alexander the Great who became king of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. â€Å"The ptolemaic dynasty was interlocked in goodwill and bad with the other Hellenistic states that had been wrenched out of portions of Alexander’s empire† (Huzar, 187). In this paper I will discuss who she was, and the measures she would she would go to for the good of her country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BC in Egypt. Her father was Egypt's pharaoh, Ptolemy XII, nicknamed Auletes or "Flute-Player." Cleopatra's mother was probably Auletes's sister, Cleopatra V Tryphaena. She had two older sisters, Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV. She also had a younger sister, Arsinole IV. There were also two younger brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV. When their father died in 51 BC, he left the rule of the kingdom to Cleopatra VII and her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. She married him, a twelve-year-old. This was not out of love for him, but out of wanting to rule. In order for her to rule she must have a consort, either brother or son.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cleopatra is one of the most talked about figures in ancient history. â€Å"She possessed many titles. Among them was Thea Neotera, the New Goddess, an echo of that great earlier Cleopatra Thea; and Philadelphus, lover of her brothers. Other titles include Philopator, lover of father, and Philopatris, lover of country. † (Grant1, 198). It was said by some that she was beautiful and irresistible. When portrayed on film she is a ravishing beauty. Others would argue that her beauty was internal rather than external; that her looks are not at all what attracted the great men of her time but her intellect and personality. She was an educated woman who could speak several languages, knew of geography, and could talk of politics. This was rare at the time, for not many women could. â€Å"Cleopatra formed a mighty plan to revive the great Ptolemaic Empire of the past by maintaining associations with two successive leaders, Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius, who both in turn became her lovers.† (Grant, 17).